Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
UMOM New Day Centers has received a $1.5 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation to support efforts addressing family homelessness.
The unrestricted funding will be awarded over three years and will support UMOM’s shelter, supportive services and housing stability programs, according to a press release.
“We are deeply grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for standing with the families we serve,” Monique Lopez, CEO of UMOM New Day Centers, said. “This unrestricted grant gives us the ability to break down barriers, stabilize families in crisis, and open the door to long‑term opportunity for thousands.”
Phoenix recorded a significant increase in its unsheltered population during the most recent winter count, with about 3,760 people living on city streets, a nearly 40 percent increase from the previous year. Housing shortages and reduced federal funding have contributed to increased demand for services statewide.
“It’s sad that more and more families are falling into homelessness,” Renee Parsons, co‑founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, said. “UMOM is the gold standard in Arizona when it comes to helping parents and their children regain stability. From nutritious meals and healthcare services to job readiness and childcare — their programs don’t just shelter families, they transform futures.”
UMOM has provided services for families experiencing homelessness for more than 60 years through emergency shelter, transitional housing, workforce development and wraparound support programs. The organization said the grant will help strengthen capacity, reduce waitlists and expand services.
“It hits me hard to think about children sleeping in cars or on the streets,” Bob Parsons, co‑founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation, said. “UMOM embraces families at one of the toughest times of their lives, giving them the dignity, stability and the support they need to move forward.”
The unrestricted funding will allow UMOM to address priority needs across the organization and respond as family needs change, while continuing efforts to restore hope and promote long‑term stability.
