Maricopa County’s Homeless Housing Hub Leaves Families Without Shelter
Maricopa County’s centralized Family Housing Hub was meant to simplify access to shelter, but a 2023 evaluation found 94% of people assessed for housing help did not receive it. Family homelessness in the county has reached its highest level in over a decade, shelters are full, and waits can last months. Interviews with 30 homeless families found that calls, outreach meetings, and shelter visits rarely led to offers of help, with some unable to join a waitlist.
Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populated county, once promoted its Family Housing Hub as a one-stop way for families in crisis to find shelter. A 2023 review found that 94% of those evaluated for housing aid did not get it; that figure excluded parents who never reached a worker.
The hub is operated by UMOM, whose CEO said staff first explore alternatives before offering shelter or a waitlist spot. Family homelessness is at a decade-plus high, shelters are full, and waits can stretch months. Thirty interviewed families reported that hotline calls, outreach meetings, and shelter visits seldom produced help.
The hub’s reported failures could deepen housing instability for parents and children in Maricopa County, potentially prolonging school disruptions, health risks, and financial strain. If families cannot access timely shelter, some may rely more on informal arrangements, cars, or unsafe situations. Public confidence in local homeless services may also erode, while officials and nonprofits could face pressure to revise intake, waitlist, and referral practices. The effects may fall hardest on children and caregivers with limited resources.