Golden Year for UMOM
In the past five decades, thousands of Arizona
families and individuals have been welcomed
home by UMOM. The organization, which
celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was
founded in 1964 by a group of United
Methodists at a church in downtown Phoenix
as an urban ministries program to address
the problems of poverty and hunger. Since
that time, UMOM has grown from providing
food, to providing shelter, support services
and housing. UMOM New Day Centers is now
Arizona’s largest shelter for families. Each night,
including all of the organization’s programs,
more than 1,000 people who might otherwise
have been on the streets have a place to stay.
Today, UMOM has an $11 million annual budget and 185 caseworkers across all of its sites. At the helm is CEO Darlene Newsom (left), who has worked in the nonprofit sector more than 35 years, and has been with UMOM for 12. She says, as far as she knows, UMOM is not only the largest homeless shelter for families in the state but also the oldest. She points with pride to program after program the organization has developed. These include:
· Main Campus Shelters, which provide an emergency shelter program and transitional living programs
· Next Step Housing, which helps all UMOM families obtain permanent, affordable housing when they leave the shelter
· Veterans’ programs
· Domestic violence shelter
· The Watkins Basic Needs Shelter, an emergency shelter for single women and families
· Wellness Center, a licensed medical clinic operated by Phoenix Children’s Hospital
· Child Development Center, a licensed, accredited child-care program for UMOM resident children between 6 weeks and 5 years, and after-school programs for school-age children and teenagers.
Newsom says, “If people want to change their lives, they can do it at UMOM.”
THE NEED IS GREAT Newsom points out that in 1964 when UMOM was founded, President Johnson declared the war on poverty. The national poverty rate in the United States was 19 percent at that time. In 2012 (the most recent year available), the national poverty rate fell to below 15 percent. But in Arizona in 2012, it was still 19 percent. “That keeps me awake at night,” Newsom says.
The Bob and Renee Parsons Foundation gave the organization a big shot in the arm in 2013 when it donated $5 million, enabling UMOM to pay off its existing $4.2 million mortgage and expand its programs and services. That included adding 22 units to house 82 families. “The Parsons saw an opportunity,” Newsom says. “Another donor might have seen a debt.”
THE GOALS For all its longevity and success, there is still room for growth. Newsom enumerates three goals:
1. To secure more housing options for clients. Already the group has begun this search.
2. To create a centralized intake for the community. The federal government mandates that service groups operate more efficiently. UMOM has been selected to do a pilot program for the City of Phoenix. Among UMOM’s properties is the property in a former Travelodge just west of the main campus. By late spring a few of the rooms on the first floor will be used for the centralized intake; upper floors are used for young adults 18 to 24 who are homeless.
3. To provide workforce development. Already UMOM has an active GED program and staff to help place people in the job world. UMOM also offers clients a 9-week culinary program with a two-week internship. And UMOM has expanded current job-training programs to include a market café where clients can receive barista training, and learn to be cashiers and provide customer service. “Helpings,” which will feature Starbucks products and sell produce and healthy food, will launch April 10 and open to the public for business Monday, April 14.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT The majority of funding for UMOM comes from individuals and United Way, with just 34 percent from government programs. The organization has positioned itself this way because government funding generally decreases rather than increases.
One might think that as the economy improves so will the lives of the poorest among us or that as the economy improves more people will be able to buy homes. Newsom counters that argument by pointing out that if someone has lost his home, he’s not going to be able to get a mortgage for another one. And as the economy improves, the cost of living goes up. And if an individual is working at minimum wage, childcare is often not an option. Often families have to make the difficult choice of keeping their older children home from school to take care of the younger children. Or, Newsom says, leave children with someone who isn’t qualified.
There are many ways the community gives, Newsom says, and all are appreciated. Some supporters make automatic monthly donations and some designate their United Way donations to UMOM. Private dollars also come from family foundations, other faith-based organizations and corporations. Organizations such as National Charity League, Brophy College Preparatory and Xavier College Preparatory spend volunteer hours on campus.
THE CELEBRATION The 50th anniversary celebration is yearlong. To honor the anniversary, UMOM is working toward 50,000 volunteer hours. Opportunities range from reading with children to working with adults in the Career Center. Learn more
Also this year, supporters have the opportunity to help build UMOM’s Community Legacy Wall with the purchase of a commemorative tile.
Two upcoming events will also support the cause. On May 2, the UMOM Golf Tournament and Swing into Summer Event will be held at Grayhawk Golf Club. More information
At this year’s Oct. 17 Buckles & Bangles fundraising dinner, Renee and Bob Parsons will be honored. The event will be held at the Arizona Biltmore. In this fifth anniversary year of the occasion, the dress code remains jeans and cowboy boots.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL SCHENNUM
