UMOM New Day Centers have received more than twice as many families seeking heat respite this summer as they did last summer. Phoenix City Council has upped their funding to the nonprofit shelters accordingly.
Phoenix had planned to pay UMOM $300,000 for the 2026 heat season for providing heat respite centers seven days a week for families with minor children experiencing homelessness. That total was increased to $772,904.80 on Wednesday.
Four speakers spoke in front of city council ahead of Wednesday’s vote in support of the increased funding.
“It’s very important to the homeless in general, especially the single moms and people that go to UMOM and the families. Having more water quite honestly could be the difference between life and death for a lot of these people,” said Frank Urban, an organizer for Fund for Empowerment’s Houseless Leadership Project.
The increased funding from the city is available from the Phoenix Office of Homeless Solution’s operating budget via existing federal, state and county grant funding.
Funding will cover staffing, building, and hotel stay costs that have exceeded original estimates. UMOM provides hotel vouchers as overflow if there are families it cannot shelter.
Elizabeth Venable, a lead organizer and co-founder of Fund for Empowerment, said she applauded the increased funding.
“There’s a crisis in child homelessness in the state of Arizona, and a lot of people have lost benefits with children and, you know, housing is closing left and right,” Venable said.
However, Venable also said the city could do more and would have preferred to see this contract at $1 million. She said there is a great return on investment when investing in housing for the homeless.
“The stability of families and ability for people to work and to be able to access these benefits is absolutely critical,” she said.
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Mark Carlisle joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in 2017, covering Glendale. He has since moved to the Daily Independent team, primarily covering the city of Phoenix along with other topics affecting the Valley at-large.
Community: Mark enjoys taking his two young sons to parks, the Phoenix Zoo, the Phoenix Public Library and other fun events around the Valley. He also participates in a local book club.
Education: Chapman University with a BA in English Journalism and one in Screenwriting.
Random Fact: Mark worked at a tuxedo shop in college. Just don’t ask him to tie a bowtie.
Hobbies: Spending time with his wife, sons and dog, watching sports and TV shows, listening to audiobooks and occasionally writing fiction or designing a board game.
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