La Mesita Family Shelter in Mesa. Via A New Leaf
Staff | Digital Free Press
A New Leaf is transitioning 16 emergency shelter units at its La Mesita Family Shelter in Mesa into affordable housing, responding to a sharp decline in shelter funding and the expiration of American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
In the past year, La Mesita Family Shelter served 197 individuals — 112 children and 85 adults across 49 families — with an average stay of 74 days, according to a press release.
Under the new affordable housing model, the same space will more permanently house approximately 64 individuals annually (37 children and 27 adults, or 16 families), significantly increasing long-term housing stability, the release states.
“While we are temporarily converting these units to meet the increasing need for long-term affordable housing, this does not have to be a permanent shift,” said Laura Bode, chief philanthropy officer at A New Leaf. “If funding priorities or community needs change, we are prepared to re-evaluate and potentially reinstate emergency shelter services at La Mesita.”
