Phoenix, AZ (Jan 20, 2026): A press conference was held this morning to officially launch the Arizona Shelter Network as a collaborative of leading shelter providers working together to strengthen Arizona’s response to homelessness.
Today, Keys to Change, A New Leaf, Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), and UMOM New Day Centers publicly launched a coalition they built over the last two years.
This initiative brings together organizations committed to ensuring that every individual and family in crisis has access to safe shelter and a path toward permanent solutions to end their homelessness.
Together, these organizations shelter 50% of the homeless population in Maricopa County. Fifteen other organizations participate in work groups that are sharing data, analyzing together, examining best practices, and contributing to the goals of the Arizona Shelter Network.
Urgency related to increasing homelessness is felt as the inflow of households into homelessness continues to outpace housing placements at a rate of 2 to 1. The lack of predictability in any fund source makes stability of shelter operations risky. Arizona Shelter Network is committed to finding ways to keep the current number of emergency shelter beds open and available in the community.
The message is clear: with homelessness on the rise, and funding drying up – it’s up to the direct service providers to create collaborative solutions.
Longer term, the Network strives to:
· Increase shelter bed utilization
· Reduce the average length of stay in emergency shelter
· Increase positive exits outs of homelessness
· Maintain a flat level of recidivism
“Everyone at Keys to Change is celebrating today as we made public the work we have been doing with partners across the region. And this is only the beginning. We have bold short term and long term goals,” says Amy Schwabenlender, CEO, Keys to Change.
Nathan Smith, CEO, CASS, says, “It’s exciting when providers self-organize to ensure people don’t slip through the cracks and are given the best possible opportunity to escape homelessness.”
Kathy DiNolfi, Chief Program Officer, A New Leaf adds, “This collaboration provides opportunities for partners to share information, data and best practices towards the ultimate goal of serving people experiencing homelessness, focusing on achievable goals.”
“Every family deserves a safe place to sleep and a clear path home. The people of Arizona deserve a shelter system that is stable, coordinated, and built for long-term solutions. We’re proud to be part of the solution,” shared Monique Lopez, CEO, UMOM.
A “data walk” was available with visualization of shelter data being shared, analyzed, and used for goal setting.
The press conference also provided an opportunity for one-on-one interviews with the above speakers, plus Kathy DiNolfi, Chief Program Officer, A New Leaf, and Monique Lopez, CEO, UMOM New Day Centers.
Arizona Shelter Network’s Mission:
To strengthen Arizona’s shelter system and ensure every person has a safe, stable place to sleep.
Get Involved: Arizona Shelter Network welcomes collaboration with public agencies, funders, and community organizations committed to safe, stable housing for all Arizonans. Sign up online to receive updates and further connect: azshelternetwork.org
Learn more about AZ Shelter Network at azshelternetwork.org
Link to photos: Dropbox: Jan 20 Press Conference Photos
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Media Contacts:
Amy Schwabenlender
CEO
Keys to Change
602-281-8628
amys@keystochangeaz.org
Tanner Swanson
Marketing Director
A New Leaf
Keys to Change
tswanson@turnanewleaf.org
Nicole Pena
Chief Development Officer
Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS)
npena@cassaz.org
Media Team
UMOM New Day Centers
media@umom.org
