By next week, families on the United Methodist Outreach Ministry’s waiting list will begin moving into the 20 newly opened rooms at their shelter on Van Buren Street in Phoenix.
Mayor Kate Gallego said the city directed $2 million of federal money toward the project, calling it a success on multiple levels of government.
“This great project has room for multi-generational families, so you can have up to eight family members in one room,” said Gallego. “It recognizes the reality that families come in all shapes and sizes, and even better, the room is ADA accessible.”
Gallego also praised the on-site bakery and mobile career unit, which she said provide better opportunities for the city to continue serving people.
“These additional shelter units will bring the total number of shelter created within the City of Phoenix just this year alone to 380 beds,” said Rachel Milne, who directs the City’s Office of Homelessness Solutions.
Jackson Fonder is the CEO of UMOM, which has offered nightly shelter to hundreds in Phoenix for roughly 60 years. He said all 96 beds in the 20 new rooms are ready to go.
“Families start moving in next week,” said Fonder. “We're going to start making a dent right away on that wait list, and the work continues. This is what we do.”
Councilmember Kesha Hodge Washington represents the city’s 8th District.
“This is not just a physical space, it is a reflection of the values that bind us together as a community,” she said. “It is a place where dignity is restored, where people are treated with respect and where no one has to face these challenges alone.”
Hodge Washington said it’s another step toward making the community one where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
