The landscape of emergency housing in Mesa is undergoing a change, as La Mesita Family Homeless Shelter, an establishment with a three-decade legacy, will no longer serve in its long-standing role. The 16-unit facility, managed by the nonprofit A New Leaf, has been a sanctuary for families facing the harsh realities of homelessness. Providing not just a roof but a semblance of a home, with essential services like food boxes, sanitary products, and a secure environment for children. They were allowed up to 120 days of respite in the private apartments available on-site. Families could also access resources aimed at aiding in acquiring long-term stability.
However, this chapter comes to a close as ABC15 reports that due to funding shortages, A New Leaf has been compelled to end its emergency shelter services at La Mesita. Instead, the units will be converted to affordable housing options. In the words of Laura Bode, A New Leaf's Chief Philanthropy Officer, "So unfortunately, we've had to make a really tough decision to transition the shelter to affordable housing." This decision has prompted concerns regarding the organization’s budget, particularly the CEO's salary of approximately $289,000 as revealed by 2023's tax documents, a figure seemingly misaligned with these budgetary constraints, despite its alignment with industry standards for the region, as a governance board study shows.
While the transformation of La Mesita signifies a loss for emergency housing, it aims to continue addressing homelessness through long-term solutions. The nonprofit will now provide affordable housing to low-income families, ensuring that they do not pay more rent than they can afford. Support services will remain available on the campus to bolster stability and success. According to A New Leaf's website, the driving belief is that no child or family should face homelessness alone; an ethos that underpins their ongoing mission.
This shift comes as A New Leaf remains reliant on governmental funding sources, accounting for 78% of its revenue through 130 federal contracts. These finances are dispersed across 35 programs, touching the lives of 22,000 Arizonans in the previous year, as the organization told ABC15. With the conversion to affordable housing, it is anticipated that around 64 people, including 37 children, will find a more permanent solution over the temporary relief that emergency housing provides.
