A New Leaf

06/06/2026

Every year, one number dominates Arizona's conversation about homelessness. But that number represents just a single night in a much larger story.

The Point-in-Time Count is one of the most cited homelessness statistics in Maricopa County. Headlines are written about it. Policies are debated around it. Communities use it to gauge progress. Yet by design, it captures only a snapshot of homelessness on a single night.

That matters because homelessness doesn't begin and end on the night a count is conducted. Families lose housing every day. Parents sleep in cars while trying to keep their children in school. People move between couches, motels, shelters, and the street. Many never appear in the numbers that shape public perception.

Recently, our Marketing Director, Tanner Swanson, joined Arizona Horizons on Arizona PBS to discuss why this distinction is so important. If we mistake a snapshot for the whole picture, we risk underestimating the scale of the challenge and the urgency of the response it requires.

No family should have to face homelessness. At A New Leaf, we believe real solutions begin with seeing the issue as it truly is: larger, more complex, and more human than any single number can capture.

06/05/2026

Big thanks to QuikTrip for helping children, teens, and families at the La Mesita Housing Community build brighter futures!

QuikTrip’s support helps young residents enjoy a safe and enriching summer filled with learning, technology, financial literacy, educational support, and fun activities all at no cost to their families.

QuikTrip’s generosity also supports adults with the tools and guidance needed to strengthen stability, build confidence, and move their families forward.

Thank you, QuikTrip, for fueling opportunity, stability, and hope at La Mesita!

06/05/2026

For nearly twenty years, Clemencia and Rodolfo worked hard and focused on one thing: giving their children a stable home. Rodolfo worked in masonry and construction, and Clemencia cared for their family and later worked as a caregiver for seniors. “We’ve always worked,” Rodolfo says. “Everything we did was for our children. As long as they had a roof and food, we felt like we were doing our job.”

That stability collapsed when Rodolfo suffered a serious injury on the job. He couldn’t work consistently during recovery, and the family’s primary income disappeared. Bills piled up quickly, and without savings to fall back on, the pressure became overwhelming. “In twenty years, I never thought we’d be here,” Rodolfo says. “I’ve always been the provider. When I couldn’t work, everything started to fall apart.”

With no steady income, housing became fragile. Over the course of several months, the family moved wherever they could, sleeping in their car, on friends’ couches, and even in backyards. Clemencia and Rodolfo did everything they could to shield their children from the worst of the instability, even as each option ran out. “We tried to make it work wherever we were,” Clemencia says. “Couches, friends’ homes, anything to keep our kids safe. When there was nowhere, we slept in the car.”

They tried to save for a deposit and rent, but it never added up. Often, they had to pay for a cheap hotel room just so the family could shower, sleep, and keep the kids ready for school. “We were trying to save,” Rodolfo says. “But we kept having to spend money just to make it to the next day.”

Desperately looking for resources, they found A New Leaf’s West Valley Housing Assistance Center online. They applied, waited, and hoped. When they were accepted into shelter a few days later, it marked the first real period of rest the family had experienced in months. “When we got here, it felt like we could finally breathe,” Clemencia says. “Our kids were safe. That was the biggest thing.”

At A New Leaf, the family found stability and support. With help from their case manager, they began applying for jobs, attending interviews, and searching for an apartment, this time with a realistic plan forward. “We aren’t panicking anymore and we can be patient enough to make the right choices,” Rodolfo says.

Today, Clemencia and Rodolfo are actively rebuilding. Clemencia is looking for work that fits their children’s schedules, and Rodolfo is exploring the administrative side of construction so he can keep working without worrying about his injury. “I still want to provide,” Rodolfo says. “I just need work I can do long-term and A New Leaf is helping me find that.”

Through everything, their family has stayed close. They still enjoy cooking together, riding bikes, and holding onto routines that give their children a sense of normalcy. “We just want stability,” Clemencia says. “A home. Somewhere our kids don’t have to worry. We have that now.”

06/04/2026

The kids at La Mesita After School Program recently enjoyed a special visit from the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation. Jenifer Hunt led an engaging lesson about how the sun can damage our eyes and why it's important to protect them.

To bring the lesson to life, the kids got creative by decorating their own bedazzled sunglasses before celebrating with a pizza party. It was a fun afternoon filled with learning, creativity, and plenty of smiles.

Thank you to Jenifer Hunt and the Arizona Skin Cancer Foundation for helping our youth build healthy habits while making the experience memorable and fun!

06/03/2026

More than 80,000 eviction cases have been filed in Maricopa County each year for the past three years. Behind every filing is a person or family facing the possibility of losing their home.

That's why we applaud Maricopa County and its partners for launching a new eviction diversion pilot program focused on preventing evictions before they happen. By bringing together justice courts, landlords, community organizations, and the City of Phoenix, this effort aims to identify residents at risk and connect them with solutions before a housing crisis becomes homelessness.

Prevention is one of the most effective tools we have. Once a family loses housing, the road back to stability becomes significantly more difficult and expensive. Helping people stay housed in the first place reduces trauma for families, keeps children connected to their schools and communities, and strengthens neighborhoods.

At A New Leaf, we see every day how a single unexpected setback can place a family at risk of eviction. We also know that timely assistance can make all the difference. If you or someone you know is struggling to pay rent or facing eviction, don't wait until the situation becomes an emergency. Reach out for help as early as possible. Resources and support are available, and this new initiative is an encouraging step toward helping more Maricopa County families remain safely housed.

We are grateful to Maricopa County, the Board of Supervisors, the justice courts, and all community partners working to address eviction before it leads to homelessness.

The county is launching a pilot program intended to focus on early intervention and helping Phoenix residents at risk of getting evicted.

06/03/2026

Looking for a meaningful way to give back, build friendships, and make a lasting impact in the East Valley? The Mahnah Club is an incredible group of women dedicated to supporting children and families in our community — and they are currently welcoming new members! Learn more at https://www.mahnahclub.org/.

We are so grateful for the Mahnah Club’s continued support of A New Leaf. As our longest-standing donor partner, their history with our organization runs deep. Several of the Club’s founding members were also founders of A New Leaf.

This year, their generous contribution will help continue after-school programming and children’s services at our La Mesita family housing program in Mesa, creating stability, support, and opportunities for children and families rebuilding their lives.

In addition, several individuals served through MesaCAN were once again selected as Mahnah Club scholarship recipients to pursue post-secondary education, opening doors to brighter futures through education and opportunity.

Thank you to this extraordinary group of women for decades of partnership, compassion, and commitment to our community. We are honored to continue this legacy together.

06/02/2026

🚨Nearly 500,000 Arizonans have lost SNAP benefits in the past year. Among them are nearly 200,000 children. 🚨

Food insecurity is not a policy debate for the families experiencing it. It means parents skipping meals so their children can eat. It means choosing between groceries, rent, medication, or utilities. No family should have to face those choices.

A recent KJZZ report highlights concerns from Arizonans who say they remain eligible for SNAP but have struggled to navigate application requirements, phone interviews, and processing delays. Meanwhile, food banks across Arizona report growing demand as more families seek help putting food on the table.

The reality is that food banks cannot replace SNAP. As Arizona Food Bank Network leaders noted, SNAP has historically provided about five meals for every one meal a food bank can provide. Community organizations are working tirelessly to help, but they cannot close that gap alone.

At A New Leaf, we know that food security and housing stability are deeply connected. When families lose access to basic necessities, the risk of housing instability, financial crisis, and homelessness increases. Every child deserves enough to eat. Every family deserves the opportunity to build stability. We hope Arizona's leaders continue working toward solutions that ensure vulnerable families can access the support they need.

Former SNAP beneficiaries cut from the program say the state is making it impossible to prove they’re still eligible.

06/01/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

At A New Leaf, we believe everyone deserves to feel safe, supported, and valued for who they are. This month, we celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals throughout our community.

We are committed to fostering a culture of respect and belonging for the people we serve, our employees, volunteers, donors, and community partners.

Thank you for helping us build a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Happy Pride Month!

05/31/2026

AMAZING! 💜Arizona is training a new generation of legal advocates to help people facing domestic violence and eviction before they fall into crisis.

The new Women's Legal and Self-Empowerment Certification program will equip women across the state with formal training in domestic violence advocacy, housing stability, and eviction prevention. The goal is simple: make sure more people have access to trusted, knowledgeable support when they need it most.

This effort comes at a critical time. Domestic violence continues to impact thousands of Arizona families, while housing costs and legal barriers make it harder for many survivors to find safety and stability. No one should have to navigate those challenges alone.

What makes this program especially powerful is its focus on community leaders with lived experience. By investing in women who understand these challenges firsthand, Arizona is building a stronger network of advocates who can help neighbors access resources, understand their rights, and find a path forward.

At A New Leaf, we know that early intervention changes lives. Whether it's domestic violence services, shelter, housing assistance, or supportive resources, helping people before a crisis escalates creates better outcomes for families and communities alike. We applaud the Women's Foundation for Southern Arizona and its partners for expanding access to the support and advocacy that every survivor deserves.

A new no-cost certification program is training women already serving Arizona communities to become legal advocates for neighbors facing eviction or domestic violence. Applications are due June 5.

05/30/2026

We applaud the City of Phoenix, AZ USA City Council for unanimously approving new investments that strengthen the city’s Housing Trust Fund, preserve essential homeless services, and expand flexible financial assistance for families facing housing and food insecurity. These are practical investments that help people stay housed, prevent crises before they happen, and create pathways to long-term stability.

Phoenix’s decision to invest more in housing affordability and homelessness services comes at a critical moment. With eviction filings remaining at historic highs and Phoenix facing one of the most severe affordable housing shortages in the nation, the need for action has never been clearer.

Housing affordability is not just a housing issue. It affects children’s education, workforce participation, public health, and the overall strength of our community. When families cannot afford a safe place to live, the consequences ripple throughout the Valley.

At A New Leaf, we see every day how quickly a missed paycheck, unexpected expense, or rent increase can place a family at risk of homelessness. We also see how prevention programs, shelter, housing assistance, and supportive services can help people regain stability and move forward. We are encouraged to see Phoenix continuing to invest in solutions that recognize a simple truth: everyone deserves the opportunity to live in a safe, stable home.

In a policy session Tuesday, the Phoenix City Council approved a budget that includes several new investments in housing affordability and homeless services.