“Want to get me a paper towel there?”

IN THIS HOME, EVEN MUNDANE CHORES AREN’T TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

“Generally, since we've been here, dinner has been a four-hand deal. Yeah, four-hand operation.“

JUST LAST WEEK, STEVE, SHIRLEY AND THEIR TWO KIDS WERE LIVING IN ONE ROOM IN A HOMELESS SHELTER.

“Two kids, two adults in that size of a room; it gets kinda hectic. “

NOW COMING HOME HAS REAL MEANING.

“This is the master bedroom”

BECAUSE THIS IS ALL THEIRS.

A CYCLE OF DRUGS AND ILLNESS LED THEM TO A SHELTER TWO YEARS AGO, AND, DESPITE THE FACT THAT BOTH ARE NOW SOBER AND SHIRLEY WORKS, THEY COULDN’T SAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR A PLACE TO CALL THEIR OWN.

“It's particularly a problem to find quality affordable housing. “

UNITED METHODIST OUTREACH MINISTRIES -- OR UMOM -- RUNS A HOMELESS SHELTER FOR FAMILIES IN ARIZONA. THEY PROVIDE THE BASICS. BUT THEY WANTED TO DO MORE TO HELP WORKING FAMILIES ESCAPE HOMELESSNESS.

“Casa Nueva is a 64-unit complex consisting of one-, two- and three-bedroom units. “

UMOM PARTNERED WITH DEVELOPERS AND GOT INTO THE HOME-BUILDING BUSINESS; 26 APARTMENTS AT CASA NUEVA ARE OPEN TO LOW-INCOME FAMILIES, WHO ARE GIVEN HELP WITH RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSITS

The ultimate goal is to have these families sustain a life of independent living.

“Eat your soup. It’s hot.”

SHIRLEY AND STEVE ARE NERVOUS ABOUT THE FINANCIAL PRESSURES THAT COME WITH THIS APARTMENT, BUT THEY FEEL SUPPORTED.

“Having a strong faith in God can get you through anything.”