Join us and Change the Future for Homeless Families
A Case for Philanthropic Support
for the only East Valley
Homeless Shelter
October 2013
A New Leaf
868 East University Drive
Mesa, Arizona 85203
Phone (480) 969-4024
TurnaNewLeaf.org
The Only East Valley Homeless Shelter
As the only emergency homeless
shelter in the East Valley for
families living on the edge of the
economy and society, A New Leaf
may be the difference between a
home and the street. A New Leaf
Board of Directors has created a
plan to re-build the La Mesita
family emergency homeless shelter. The new 16-unit shelter will
provide up to 355 family members with safe haven and services
for an average stay of 90 days. For over 30 percent of the
homeless population, this is a new experience that comes from
job loss, foreclosure or unexpected health issues. Individuals and
families will have access to trained staff.
The La Mesita Shelter Project is seeking $10 million in gifts from
individuals, foundations and corporations. $4.2 million is needed
immediately to build and equip the shelter and its support
services structures located on the Campus. $3.2 million is needed
to help fund the increased costs of operating the new shelter, and
the expansion of our programs serving the homeless on the entire
La Mesita campus. We are seeking an initial $4 million to establish
the La Mesita Endowment to ensure the continuity of helping
homeless families well into the future.
A Tradition of Caring for Families
A New Leaf is a Joint Commission accredited, 501(c)(3) organization
committed to its mission of “Helping Families…Changing Lives.” The
agency, founded in 1971, helps disadvantaged and vulnerable
individuals in “turning over a new leaf.” Over 19,000 individuals,
families, and children are served on an annual basis through a
continuum of programs and services that educate and assist the less
fortunate in leading healthier, safer lives.
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A New Leaf began as a result of community efforts to address the
escalating drug problems in public schools. In 1971, Dorothy B.
Mitchell and Larry Simmons established a service organization
based on the PREvention and reHABilitation of troubled youth.
PREHAB of Arizona was established.
In 2007 the name was changed to A New Leaf to reflect the
concepts of “growth, change and new beginnings”. Programs fall
into three broad categories:
 Emergency & Transitional Shelter and Support Services.
These services are focused on homeless families and women
and children who have been victimized by domestic
violence. Includes emergency shelter, transitional housing,
child care, case management, victim and court advocacy,
weatherization assistance, emergency rental and utility
assistance, financial literacy training and a federally matched
program that supports first home purchase, college
education or small business capitalization.
 Youth Services include intensive residential treatment
centers, residential detention alternative centers,
therapeutic and regular foster care, transitional living,
community alternative centers, intensive outpatient
programming, intensive home-based counseling, and
mentoring.
 Community Based Behavioral Health Services include
professional counseling, skill development classes, in-home
respite care, psychiatric evaluation, medication
management, case management, rehabilitation, and support
programming.
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La Mesita – There is No Place Like Home
La Mesita is the ONLY shelter in the East Valley that provides
emergency shelter for homeless families with minor children. These
are working poor families who might otherwise be forced to live on
the streets, in vehicles or in other substandard living conditions.
Residents may stay for up to 120 days with the goal of transitioning
families into affordable housing in the community. The La Mesita
program addresses the three major barriers homeless families identify
as blocks to success. These include: safe and affordable housing,
access to quality affordable childcare, and access to public transit.
La Mesita will have a brand new state-of-the-art onsite Child
Development Center. Through a combination of Community
Partnerships and trained staff we are able to offer these services for
homeless children free of charge. The goal of the program is to
mitigate developmental delays associated with homelessness and
poverty so that these children can be successful in elementary school.
Programming is designed to build self-esteem, independence and
confidence so that these children are able to cope with difficult
situations on their own in the future.
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La Mesita is located on the light rail line, express and commuter bus
routes and close to Valley freeways making it convenient for residents
to get to work. These options expand the easily available job locations
to Mesa, Tempe, and Phoenix. Once completed, the new La Mesita
Emergency Family Shelter will be a safe place to call home and a
doorway to a better life for many Valley families.
An Urgent Need and A Community Solution –
Families Deserve Better
Originally built as a motel during in the 1940’s, the La Mesita was not
designed for permanent living. Over the years, many ‘fixes’ were
undertaken to accommodate long term homeless residents, but major
repairs and renovations continued to disrupt day-to-day life.
When rusty-brown water again
began coming out of the
deteriorating plumbing system, A
New Leaf’s staff and City Officials
recognized that the cost of
rehabilitation far exceeded the
cost of new construction. With
community feedback, A New
Leaf’s Board of Directors developed and approved plans for a
completely new campus with additional capacity, and the ability
to offer a wider range of onsite services to meet the needs of
residents.
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Rebuilding for the Future
After a thorough assessment and careful analysis, the Board of
Directors has created a plan to re-build the La Mesita emergency
homeless shelter. The new building will shelter 16 families at a
time—who can stay for 120 days. These new shelter units will
provide up to 355 people a roof over their head each year. These
are working poor families who might otherwise be forced to live
on the streets, in vehicles or in other substandard living
conditions. For more than 20 years, La Mesita has provided a safe
shelter environment for homeless families and children, and
assisted Valley residents in overcoming the obstacles that led to
their homelessness.
The Need is Great
 The fastest growing segment of the homeless is a single Mom with kids
 78% of children in homeless families in AZ are under 12 years old.
Homelessness in Arizona 2012 Annual Report
For over 30 percent of the homeless population, this is a new
experience that comes from job loss, foreclosure or unexpected
health issues. Individuals and families need employment, job
training, and access to trained staff who can help them navigate
through complex systems. Staff will be onsite to help with a range
of issues. Examples may include: guiding clients through the
intricacies of healthcare systems, identifying available public
transportation, or explaining how to correctly complete
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applications for nutrition assistance programs. All of these are
designed to help to stabilize the family until they can get back on
their feet. A variety of services will be available at La Mesita to
help these vulnerable families regain control over their lives, and
move from homelessness to independent living, in a secure, costeffective way.
The Need is Now
Currently, the La Mesita families and
related services have been relocated
to the Chandler area. Working with a
local property manager, A New Leaf
secured a vacant 16 unit apartment
complex, and moved the families into
this temporary arrangement. At an
additional expense of $12,000 per
month this creates the urgency that
A New Leaf needs to build the new
shelter as quickly as possible.
Summary
The La Mesita Shelter Project is seeking $10 million in gifts from
individuals, foundations and corporations. $4.2 million is needed
immediately to build and equip the shelter and its support services
structures located on the Campus. We are also establishing the La
Mesita Endowment to ensure the continuity of helping homeless
families well into the future. This income will guarantee that La Mesita
will always be there for those who need it, when they need it most.
A New Leaf is reaching out to the community for philanthropic
support. We can no longer rely on stable and consistent government
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funding to provide the necessary resources for this important
community program. So please, give these families what they need
most in their lives right now “A Safe Place to Live.”
The Face of Homelessness–
It May Be Different Than You Think
“ I came here feeling like I was at the end of my
rope. La Mesita gave me confidence in myself,
reassurance that things will get better and the
resources to help me and my kids. They helped me
look for a permanent home, gave my kids clothes
and toys, made sure we had a roof over our heads,
Christmas dinner, and access to phones and
computers. I now have a support system, a safe
place for my children to come to after school and
the knowledge that things will get better and La
Mesita will help. I am so thankful for this place,
without it, I’m not sure how my kids and I would
have survived or been able to stay together as a family. La Mesita is the second chance I didn’t
know I had. Thank You!”
Thank you for helping A New Leaf---
Tammy, La Mesita Resident
And Mother of Six
Change the Future for Homeless Families
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