This center is creating stories of hope and success and providing a hand up for those who want to create a better, more stable life.”

Skip Hall | Surprise mayor

The city of Surprise will receive the 2024 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award at the National Community Development Association winter conference on Friday, Feb. 2 for its role in the creation of the West Valley Housing Assistance Center in partnership with nonprofit organization A New Leaf.

The center, located at 12779 W. Grand Ave., offers seven units of short-term housing and meals to families facing homelessness and housing insecurity, as well as a resource center that provides support services for families experiencing homelessness, including employment and transportation assistance, and connections to additional community resources.

The resource center also serves as a West Valley entry point where families can be assessed for shelter or housing assistance at other locations. A New Leaf manages the programs and services provided at the center as part of a partnership with the city.

Since opening, the center has served more than 3,000 individuals with housing resources and provided more than 4,000 bed nights of shelter.

“The city of Surprise is honored to receive this award because it is a celebration of how we are serving our people,” Mayor Skip Hall said. “A strong community is built by ensuring all of its members have the opportunity to succeed. This center is creating stories of hope and success and providing a hand up for those who want to create a better, more stable life. I am not only proud of what is being accomplished, but also of the great collaboration it took to get us here — from all levels of government to local nonprofit organizations, this is a true partnership project.”

The project is the result of strong public-private collaboration between multiple partners, including the city of Surprise, Maricopa County and the Arizona Department of Housing. The city worked with the owner of the property, Mustard Seed Ministries, and nonprofit housing service provider A New Leaf to complete rehabilitation of the property and build a strong coalition to operate the center and provide services.

Surprise’s initial investment of $580,000 in Community Development Block Grant funding was the catalyst for additional investment of $1,144,777 in CDBG and Housing Trust Funds from the Arizona Department of Housing, and $300,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from Maricopa County, with a total startup cost of $2,024,777.

In addition, Maricopa County has provided and additional $725,000 for ongoing operations, and Surprise has provided an additional $243,375 in CDBG funding for ongoing support.

The project also leveraged many private sector donors who not only helped to open the center, but also have pledged to support the ongoing operations.

A New Leaf received support from Arizona Public Service (APS), Arizona Diamondbacks, Desert Garden United Church, Ibis Foundation, First International Bank and Trust, Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation, Rotary Club of Surprise Community Foundation, Seeds of Hope Ministries, Sun City Rotary Foundation, Surprise Sundancers, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Valley of the Sun United Way and West Family Foundation.

While the West Valley Housing Assistance Center is a culmination of many supporters today, the dream started with late Surprise resident Lucy Terrones, founder of Mustard Seed Ministries. Terrones started a homeless shelter in March 1992 on the property where the housing assistance center stands today. In 2004, she started work to replace the motel with new facilities, but passed away before it could be finished. Surprise was honored to partner with the Terrones family to complete the project and see Lucy’s dream come to fruition.

Thanks to the strong partnerships and collaborative efforts of all involved, A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Center is now a permanent asset in the community that provides safe shelter to families who are struggling with housing stability and a centralized location of housing resources for anyone struggling to find safe, stable housing.

Surprise Housing and Community Services Supervisor Adam Lane will attend the NCDA conference to accept the award on the city’s behalf and give a presentation on the project.

The NCDA established the Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize exemplary uses of CDBG funds. Nelson was the first deputy executive secretary of NCDA.

Arizona families and individuals seeking placement at a shelter or connection to housing resources may call the state’s centralized services number at 877-211-8661.

To reach the West Valley Housing Assistance Center directly, email WVHACinfo@turnanewleaf.org, or call 623-850-5611.

To learn about A New Leaf, visit turnanewleaf.org.

To learn about social services Surprise provides, call 623-222-1550, or visit surpriseaz.gov/HSCV.