New AZ housing head says it's 'time to listen' to advocates, leverage new funds ABC15 goes one-on-one with Arizona's new Director of Housing Tom Simplot. and last updated 2021-05-07 22:17:54-04 PHOENIX â The Arizona Department of Housing's new leader, Tom Simplot is a familiar face to Phoenicians. Simplot, who served on the Phoenix City Council from 2003-2013, represented District 4 which includes parts of Central and West Phoenix. He told ABC15 that during his time on the Council housing was a top priority citing his work with a non-profit to build housing for what was a growing unsheltered population near the VA Hospital on Indian School near 7th Street.