With all of our housing interventions, UMOM has identified a gap for families needing more than two years of transitional housing due to permanent disabling conditions other than a diagnosis of a Serious Mental Illness.  Currently, there are no permanent supportive housing options for such families.  Frequently, these families experience multiple episodes of homelessness.  UMOM New Day Centers is opening 25 units of permanent supportive housing for disabled homeless families with dependent children.

The program will provide 20 two-bedrooms and 5 three-bedrooms units to serve 25 families exiting homelessness.

UMOM’s goal is to provide an environment where the families can be the most successful. The units are located around the valley so that the participants can identify a home near his/her natural supports.  We want them to have access to transportation, family, employment, medical care, and quality schools that they are comfortable with.

UMOM hired two Family Support Specialists to provide intensive support services to ensure the basic needs of all family members are met and that the families do not return to homelessness.  Families qualifying for this program will have ongoing service needs, and we believe our Family Support Specialists will be key to keeping them stably housed.

Support services will include regular and frequent contact with the Family Support Specialists to help families facilitate school enrollment and attendance, child care options, referrals to counseling and treatment, recovery activities and support groups, food security, health insurance, job skills training, employment search, parenting classes and support groups, and meaningful connections within the community.

We could not do this on our own. UMOM recognizes the importance of leveraging resources and working with other agencies in the community. UMOM is partnering with HOM, Inc. for the Housing First for Families program.  HOM, Inc. has a network of over 400 landlords throughout Maricopa County that participate in permanent supportive housing programs, providing numerous quality housing opportunities for families.

This program will help mothers like Sierra, a  22 year old single parent, who left home at the age of 16.  She has 5 children under age 8, one who is severely disabled. With many evictions, the family didn’t have a stable home for two years prior to coming to UMOM. Sierra has been a victim of domestic violence, and also suffers from depression. Now in recovery, she has been battling substance abuse for years.

Earning an income is difficult for Sierra. She has no GED and she is unable to work due to her child’s disability. Housing support through the Housing First for Families program will provide Sierra with a safe, permanent housing solution, where she has the support to help her family. This new program will be life-changing for Arizona’s most vulnerable families.

In addition to providing housing support, UMOM is collecting furnishings and household items so families have the necessities they need to be successful. If you are interested in donating items, gift cards or would like to make a monetary contribution to this project, please call 602-275-7852 or visit http://www.umom.org/get-involved/donate/.

At the Impact Awards on May 14th, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce honored UMOM with the 2013 Community Champion Award!

The Impact Awards honors the accomplishments of businesses and the impact they’ve made on the Greater Phoenix business community. Darlene Newsom, Chief Executive Officer for UMOM, accepted the recognition at the luncheon. Visit www.phoenixchamber.com/impact to see all the honorees.

All of the members at the table were minimum wage workers. They shared their struggles of living paycheck to paycheck, and others mentioned not even able to make it that far.

The Acting Secretary took notes on their concerns, and made a promise that he would share them with President Barack Obama. The Acting Secretary has been holding these round table discussions across the United States, to get feedback from workers, so that he can share his findings with the President.

The Acting Secretary begins the roundtable discussion.

A resident of our housing program talks to the media about the struggles she faces working on minimum wage.

Doug Parker, Chair of UMOM’s Patron’s Circle, UMOM CEO Darlene Newsom, The Mayor of Phoenix Greg Stanton and Renee Parsons in front of the new sign.

The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation provides critical funds at critical times to communities striving to make a difference in the greater Phoenix area. “Homelessness is a critical issue,” said Parsons Foundation Co-Founder Renee Parsons. “The decision to support UMOM and help displaced individuals, veterans and families find their way ‘home’ was easy – it’s not just a good thing to do, it’s the right thing to do.”

Renee Parsons is presented with a plaque by UMOM CEO Darlene Newsom for her foundations commitment to breaking the cycle of homelessness.

“With an estimated homeless population of more than 17,000 people in our city, every dollar counts,” said UMOM CEO Darleen Newsome. “Donations are the difference between families living in areas not suitable for human habitation and finding stable housing. We are incredibly grateful to Bob and Renee for their generous gift, without which we would not be able to provide as many services to as many families.”

A sea of pinwheels, each displaying a message of hope and thanks from the 156 families currently in residence, decorated the UMOM campus.

Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton attended the event and spoke briefly about the Phoenix Homeless Initiative.  He acknowledged the great work UMOM does and personally thanked The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation for their commitment to breaking the cycle of homelessness in Arizona.

Outside of the mortgage payment, 22 units have been added and will house 82 families this year. The addition has been instrumental in cutting the organization’s waitlist in half – taking the waitlist from more than 100 families to less than 50 per week. The grant has also enabled UMOM to appoint a child behavioral psychologist and employ additional housing specialists.

“It’s amazing to see how the funds, in less than six months, have ‘opened doors’ and made an immediate difference,” said Parsons. “Bob and I are honored to be a part of the UMOM community … a community with so much heart and hope.”

Stay tuned for details as the project starts by checking out our Facebook page for updates. https://www.facebook.com/UMOMNewDayCenters

The 2013 application format  changed this year focusing on the nonprofit’s Board Governance.  The Goodmans’ Eye for the Good GuyS Board Governance Award recognizes the most effective nonprofit (501c3) boards of directors, one in Maricopa and one in Pima counties.

“Offices are more than just chairs and desks. Offices should bring people together to collaborate, brainstorm and problem-solve,” said Adam Goodman, president of Goodmans Interior Structures. “Our ‘Good GuyS’ program rewards community leaders for their positive impact and provides a new collaborative work environment to help advance the organization’s mission.”

This year, Goodmans formed a partnership with the Arizona State University (ASU) Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation to assess the nonprofits’ performance.

Adapted from the ASU Lodestar Center’s Principles of Effectiveness tool, nonprofits will answer a questionnaire that evaluates the execution of its mission, vision, values, strategic planning and financial management.

“The ASU Lodestar Center created the Principles of Effectiveness in response to an increasing number of nonprofit leaders seeking guidance on best practices. We are pleased to apply this tool to Goodmans Interior Structures’ ‘Good GuyS’ award as it honors nonprofits for their commitment to quality and positive community impact,” said Robert F. Ashcraft, Ph.D., executive director of the ASU Lodestar Center and professor of nonprofit studies in ASU’s School of Community Resources and Development.

Family enjoying dyeing eggs together.

Young girl painting an egg at the celebration.

Young girl excited about how many eggs she collected.

Mom and daughter decorating cupcakes together.

To hear the entire interview, click here.

UMOM is excited to be a beneficiary of MMMF 2013. For tickets please click here. For more information on the event and to download and informational flyer, click here.