Tucson Credit Unions Win BLOOM Award for Developing a Collaborative Housing Solution

Posted by Alyse Knudsen on May 7, 2025

On April 24, the Community Foundation of Southern Arizona honored Tucson Credit Unions with its 2025 Bold Aspirations BLOOM Award for the Tucson Welcome Home Program, which addresses one of the region’s most critical issues – affordable housing.

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona envisions a thriving Southern Arizona that is a great place to work, play, learn, create, innovate, invest, prosper, grow up, grow families, grow businesses, and grow older. It envisions a place where all community members are housed, fed, and have access to high-quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities. The BLOOM Awards highlight the remarkable work being done by individuals, families, businesses, and nonprofits in Southern Arizona to make that vision a reality.

The Bold Aspirations BLOOM Award celebrates those whose ambitious goals, innovative actions, and steadfast commitment have made a meaningful impact in fostering a thriving Southern Arizona. The Tucson Welcome Home Program was honored for its pioneering collaboration, which was created by five Tucson-based credit unions – Pima Federal Credit Union, Tucson Federal Credit Union, Vantage West Credit Union, Hughes Federal Credit Union, and Pyramid Federal Credit Union – united in tackling the region’s workforce housing crisis. By providing 100% financing with no private mortgage insurance or origination fees and eliminating other common homeownership barriers, this program is helping families transition from renting to owning, strengthening community financial stability and prosperity. The program was established in partnership with the GoWest Foundation, which was supported Tucson Welcome Home with a $200,000 grant for loan loss reserves.

“The Tucson Welcome Home Program has been a real source of pride for our team,” remarked Shannon VanDeusen, VP of Retail Lending at Pima Federal Credit Union. “By helping individuals and families, especially those who have traditionally faced barriers to homeownership find stability through affordable housing, provides tangible impacts across Tucson. This program is not just about mortgages, it’s about dignity, belonging, and the belief that everyone deserves a place to call home.”

“The positive ripple effects of addressing housing insecurity can’t be overstated and will benefit Tucson and the surrounding community for years to come,” Dustin Powell, CEO of Pyramid Federal Credit Union shared. “These types of collaborative initiatives truly highlight the impact credit unions have in the communities they serve.”

“Knowing how the Welcome Home Program started and just wanting to make a real difference here in Tucson, genuinely warms my heart,” added Matthew Gaspari, President and CEO of Tucson Federal Credit Union. “There was this instant connection and a shared ‘let’s do this’ energy around that table. It wasn’t just about numbers; it was about seeing a need in our community and feeling like, together, we could actually do something about it. That initial spark of wanting to create something truly helpful, something that would last, fueled every step of building this program.”

“Understanding that when families receive the keys to their new home they now have a safe place and a chance to build something for their kids – that’s the real win. It makes all the effort so worthwhile,” continued Gaspari.

“It’s very inspiring to see everyone come together and take on this daunting issue in a such an impactful way,” Powell said. “I look forward to more opportunities to collaborate with all the dedicated credit union leaders that helped Tucson Welcome Home become a reality.”

Photo credit: Dominic Ortega

“I’m incredibly thankful for the other leaders and their teams who shared that same vision and made it a reality,” Gaspari added. “It’s been a rewarding experience from the first meeting; I tell this story to other friends inside and outside of the industry because it’s an example of what can be done when you get out of your own way and do it for the right reasons.

“Receiving the Bloom Award from the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona was a deeply meaningful moment for all of us at Pima FCU,” said VanDeusen. “It’s a testament to the power of Credit Union collaboration and commitment to creating inclusive opportunities for our community.”

Learn more about the GoWest Foundation’s workforce housing initiatives HERE. If your credit union is interested in launching a new workforce housing solution, reach out to [email protected].

Posted in Arizona, Community Impact, GoWest Foundation, Regional Member News, Thought Leadership, Top Headlines.