Phoenix (STN) – As Arizona prepares for another summer of extreme heat, leaders at UMOM are expanding efforts to support families experiencing homelessness while reinforcing a larger lesson about collaboration during times of crisis.
During the May episode of ‘It Happens at STN,’ UMOM CEO Monique Lopez and COO Meaghan Rodeck discussed the organization’s new summer heat-relief initiative, which will provide daytime and overnight shelter for families on the organization’s Phoenix campus.
Lopez said the decision to launch the new effort reflected years of strategic planning designed to keep the organization ready for urgent moments.
“We always talk about being built to last,” Lopez said. “It’s about being prepared for opportunities when they come and being ready to respond to a need.”
WATCH: UMOM leaders talk collaboration and summer heat relief efforts
UMOM, the state’s largest family emergency shelter provider, is converting shelter rooms into temporary summer heat-relief spaces where families can access housing support, case management, and other services while escaping dangerous temperatures.
For Lopez, the decision was rooted in UMOM’s long-standing focus on serving families.
“No child deserves to sleep on the street,” she said. “And during the summer months, being outside in the heat is unimaginable.”
Rodeck said the impact of summer homelessness on families extends far beyond the weather itself.
“When school is out, families lose a lot of the support systems they rely on during the year,” she said. “Getting people into safe, stable conditions faster is critical because every day in an unsafe situation makes recovery harder.”
The conversation also focused heavily on collaboration and how organizations can work together more effectively during crises. Lopez argued that successful partnerships require honesty about what organizations do best.
“People have to be honest about their superpowers,” she said. “Collaboration doesn’t always mean participating in everything.”
Instead, she said organizations should focus on where they can create the greatest impact while allowing other partners to lead in areas where they are stronger.
Rodeck echoed that approach, pointing to partnerships with organizations like Community Bridges, which helps transport individuals to UMOM’s campus.
“We know how to help families find housing and stability,” she said. “Other organizations bring different strengths.”
Both leaders closed with a call for year-round engagement around homelessness, not just during moments of crisis.
“I would urge people to care year-round,” Lopez said. “Where there’s an opportunity to support, please do it.”
