$1.5 Million Grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation Boosts UMOM’s Work to Support Families Facing Homelessness.

Three-year investment will expand critical programs that help parents and children achieve stability and rebuild their lives

 UMOM New Day Centers has received a $1.5 million grant from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. Awarded over three years, the unrestricted funding will support UMOM’s mission to end family homelessness by restoring hope and rebuilding lives through safe shelter, supportive services, and pathways to long-term stability.

“We are deeply grateful to The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation for standing with the families we serve,” said Monique Lopez, CEO of UMOM New Day Centers. “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.”

In Phoenix, the unsheltered population surged to a record high this past winter. About 3,760 people were recorded living on city streets, marking a nearly 40% increase from 2024 to 2025. With HUD funding shrinking and a lack of affordable housing throughout Arizona, this grant is coming at a crucial time.

“It’s sad that more and more families are falling into homelessness,” said Renee Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “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.”

For more than 60 years, UMOM has helped families rebuild their lives through emergency shelter, transitional housing, workforce development, wraparound support, and a range of other services that promote stability and independence. This investment will strengthen UMOM’s capacity to meet rising community needs, reduce waitlists, and expand programs that help parents and children move toward secure housing and lasting opportunity.

“It hits me hard to think about children sleeping in cars or on the streets,” said Bob Parsons, Co-Founder of The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation. “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 from The Bob & Renee Parsons Foundation allows UMOM to invest in priority needs across the organization and respond quickly as the needs of families evolve. The grant will help UMOM sustain and grow mission-critical services while continuing its work to restore hope and rebuild lives.

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