New affordable housing complex comes to north Phoenix

Some homeless families in Maricopa County have a chance at a better life thanks to a new permanent housing community.

Parsons Village, located in the Sunnyslope section of Phoenix near Cave Creek Road and Peoria Avenue, features 48 apartment units consisting of one, two and three bedroom units. Thirty-nine of the units are already occupied, serving homeless families, individuals and veterans. The community, created by the non-profit UMOM New Day Centers, also features job assistance for adults and after school activities for the kids.

“We want to make sure we meet all of (the children’s) needs and keep them very busy,” said Mattie Lord, chief program officer at UMOM. “We have computer classes, we have homework help, we have tutoring club, we have recreational activities, field trips. They really find a sense of community and being together.”

It’s UMOM’s fourth permanent housing community. Parsons Village also features a jungle gym and a basketball court allowing kids to get outside and get some physical activity.

“We like to believe we’re giving families a hand up and helping them out of their situation,” Lord said.

Lord said that Parsons Village allowed them to make a small dent in the waiting list for homeless families in need of housing, but she said the list is still long.

“There are many, many families waiting for the opportunity to move from homelessness into permanent, affordable housing,” Lord said.

She said UMOM hopes to open more permanent housing communities like Parsons Village in the future.

“Housing ends homelessness,” Lord said. “So UMOM is always seeking opportunities to add more units of permanent, affordable housing in the community.”

Ribbon cutting today at Parsons Village in PHX. More on new affordable housing complex tmrw on @AZMorningNews pic.twitter.com/3UBXDw2MOA

— Mike Sackley (@MikeSackley) April 6, 2016

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