I have been a supporter of Save the Family Foundation of AZ for 32 years. In my experience, I have seen and met multiple families that truly were saved by the programs offered by STF. All families receive counseling, children thru adults, are given housing and assistance with finding employment. As a supporter, I have helped with clothing and furniture donations which these families may keep when they have become self sufficient.
One of the families, mother and 2 children, were homeless, living in their car, when they were introduced to STF for assistance. Today, she is a bank manager and had purchased her own home. All three are thriving, 1 daughter in college today.
I walked through the doors of Save The Family in April of 2005. I was a single, unsheltered mother with 3 daughters. I came from a broken place and wanted to be the mom I was meant to be. STF accepted me into their program with open arms, they provided me with the tools I needed to succeed at life. I was in the transitional program for two years, during that time I went to school and signed up for every class STF offered. I then graduated to ARM and lived there for a few years, continuing to grow in my career and as a mom.
Fast forward to today and my children are grown, happy and beginning their own lives with a foundation that wouldn't exist without the lessons learned at STF. I am a community outreach worker and proud to live in the same community for the last 17 years. I love my life today and had it not been for Save The Family and the hand up they gave to my family; I would not be where I am today.
***UPDATE*****
After several meetings with STF and lots of planning for a fundraiser they have coming up, Save The Family has made their stance very clear when it comes to helping people with substance use disorder make it out alive and healthy. Today, I was informed that due to my work in the community with people who currently use drugs I am no longer invited to share my family's story. Save The Family Foundation of Arizona has made some huge changes and seems to now be governed by people who have no clue what is going on around them. SB1250 makes syringe access programs legal in the state of Arizona, syringe service programs save lives!!! My work in the community helps stop the spread of HIV and Hep C, it is a vital service. I also build relationships with folks experiencing homelessness and when they are ready to change their lives around, I am the one they come to for resources and referrals and Save The Family will not be on that list.
This organization has done well in Arizona, We have seen first hand the many people they have helped.
I booked a tour of Save the Family because I wanted to learn more about the services they offer to individuals in need. I was blown away by the breadth of services offered, and the kindness layered into their processes from start to finish. No one is exempt from hard times. Save the Family meets you where you are at and helps you to take your next appropriate steps. The biggest impact I was left with is how mindful they are about serving dignity. It's not about just a helping hand, they offer the support that allows an individual to take the reins and provide for their family through them. It is that experience of empowerment that is truly transformative and will stay with that individual...that family, forever.
I have been aware of Save the Family Fdn of AZ for many years; have donated baby and toddler items to them a few times, believed them to be doing great work in our community, but until recently, I had no idea of the depth of their services and tremendous impact ---serving over 700 families last year. I had the opportunity to tour Valor on 8th, their housing property that prioritizes veterans, especially women vets and those with children. What a beautiful property complete with multiple community spaces for learning, support services, a food pantry, a teen room, resources for employment seeking, and even a Head Start classroom. While Save the Family, takes a "housing first" approach, so much thought and work is then put into the myriad of support services that focus on transitioning their clients to independence through personal & professional growth, all with the understanding of trauma-informed care. Kudos to Save the Family for creating partnerships to provide affordable housing, guiding vulnerable parents to a sustainable safe and successful future, and providing quality childcare and enrichment so that their clients can overcome adversity and thrive in our community!
I have been involved with Save the Family for the past 15yrs and am continually impressed with the amazing work this organization does. Besides the amazing work they do. The employees of STF genuinely love their job and helping families in the community. From getting school supplies together to getting a family housing. They are there for the community 100%. Love Save the Family and supporting them whenever I can.
I have worked with Save the Family professionally as well as volunteered for them. It is one the finest programs if not the finest in its space. The staff and volunteers truly believe in the mission and purpose that they have set forth as a organization. The support offered to families through the programs from housing to daycare and job search is unmatched.
Save the Family offers a great opportunity for parents who are interested in actively working to end their homelessness and become self-sufficient.
Save the Family is a wonderful agency that continues to help families on the brink of homelessness. The programs and resources available to help every family member, from child to parent. They provide safe housing with low, affordable rents, which is uncommon in today's market.
Save the Family has and continues to help families who have fallen on hard times for a variety of reasons. They have amazing programs to help families get back on their feet! I'm so grateful that, in the midst of all the difficulties that families face, a program like Save the Family is available to assist!
Save the Family is an incredible non profit in the East Valley that serves a vulnerable population, families experiencing homelessness or at risk of eviction due to COVID-19. They have a dedicated staff committed to surrounding the families with support and resources to overcome homelessness and achieve self sufficiency. They do this by having Case Managers and support staff (Career Services, Youth Coordination, Financial Literacy 1:1's, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Counseling) to come alongside the family and give them a hand up. They continue their wrap around services by providing on site childcare and transportation for meetings at the office and job interviews. They use trauma informed care, motivational interviewing, and other modalities to meet the families where they are and help them to reach their goals. They are strong advocates for families in need of more services or permanent supportive housing. In the current market of high rental prices and inflation, the valley needs more organizations like Save the Family, fighting for equity and inclusivity for all families.
From the staff at Save the Family, to the board members I've encountered - this organization is truly a gift to the community it serves. The housing programs are amazing and the impact on the families they're supporting is instrumental in the future of many families across the valley. The surrounding community is extremely generous with the donation of household items and various volunteer projects. All of the hard work from the team and the community is giving families a chance to get back on their feet with all of the necessary supplies.
Save the Family Foundation of Arizona truly goes above and beyond to ensure families have everything they need to get back on their feet. The organization provides a wealth of information and resources, including classes for individuals to learn about financial literacy, nutrition, empowerment, and mental health. They care about people and give them a second chance when families have gone through life obstacles.
Save the Family is a wonderful provider of critical housing and supportive services to economically vulnerable families in the East Valley communities of Maricopa County. They provide results-driven services with kindness, compassion, and commitment. Save the Family utilizes best practices in their case management and housing interventions, and strives to create new and innovative programs (such as Step Up to Independence).
I am a member of the Chandler Elks, and we have programs to support Veterans. I am so glad we found Save the Family. It is a terrific organization to work with, and we love how they impact our community. They help so many families in and around the Phoenix area, and they run the ONLY building in the State of Arizona which is dedicated solely to helping low income Veterans and their families. They help so many families from all walks of life, but their outstanding support for our Veterans sets them apart as one of the best in our State. Jaime Podratz, their community outreach person, has been such an outstanding partner in our efforts to help Veterans that we could not do what we do for them without her.
My story is a little bit different than maybe most. I've been working for/with save the family now for about 7 years, creating content for their fundraising purposes. But Save the Family isn't just a client of mine, they are like family to me and their clients are like family to them. For just under a year in 2014, I was homeless and sleeping inside a commercial building in Mesa. Because of that experience I feel even closer to the cause and the people involved with it. I highly encourage people to give when they can, whatever amount, and the more you have, the more I believe in giving. It takes a village, and everyone's donation matters.
My interactions with the staff at Save The Family have been nothing short of genuine and respectful. Every person I meet has been incredibly honest, informative, and helpful. Not only that, my colleagues speak highly of those they serve and find ways to best support them. Although I have not been working with them very long, Save The Family creates an atmosphere of openness that is difficult to find in many places.
I've served on the board of Save the Family for two years and am consistently impressed with their staff's professionalism and innovation, their focus on ensuring programs are best tailored to meet the needs of their clients, and their commitment to their fiduciary responsibility. The organization is fulfilling its mission by working with families to help them overcome homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency through a host of programs that address housing, financial literacy, career development, parenting, children's services and more.
I’m impressed with Save The Family because it requires clients to participate in the their efforts to end homeliness through various classes & programs. Save The Family has been successful in helping many families get back on track on their feet. It is a well-run and professional non-profit.
Save the family helped my family put an end to our homelessness. They helped me with housing, finding a stable job and learning to budget my money. Most recently I was able to purchase my own home and no longer require public assistance to survive. I'm truly greatful for all of the support and resources that were made available to my family through Save The Family in which put an end to our homelessness and secured a stable and healthy future for us. I pray others are as fortunate as we were to walk through their doors and have their lives transformed as well.
Save the Family is an essential provider of housing and services for hundreds of homeless and impoverished families. Established more than three decades ago, this organization has positively impacted the lives of thousands of families throughout the East Valley of Maricopa County, Arizona. Today, Save the Family is the oldest and largest provider of housing for struggling and extremely vulnerable families in the East Valley, serving the communities of Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Scottsdale and Tempe, Arizona. I've been involved with this organization's life-changing work for more than 5 years and have seen first-hand how families are able to lift themselves out of poverty and move on from their homeless experience.
I've known this agency for almost 10 years and they are so focused on helping families and especially the children., this is where they can stop the cycle of homelessness.
They also are working with community resources on Eviction Prevention - taking on extra staff and costs to help anyone (family or single) to avoid Eviction due to the pitfalls of the pandemic.
Actually helps families move on from their desperate situations and get back on their feet. They attack the specific issues of a family whether it be employment, health, financial knowledge, transportation...what they do represents a permanent fix to the situation - not just a band aid approach.
I have seen how Save the Family works. They help people in need and always go above and beyond to help. They are so caring and willing all the time. Great organization with great staff.
Transparent and fiscally sound, Save the Family's work in the community is moving the needle on helping homeless families out of crisis and into stability.
Previous Stories
Serving the community for over 30 years, Save the Family is one of the Valley's largest homeless housing and service provider. They do incredible work in supporting families as they transition to more stable housing, ensuring children and the family unit are safe and stronger upon program completion.
Review from Guidestar
Provides comprehensive services and resources to families needing housing, food, clothes, jobs and so much more!
The staff at Save the Family Foundation are genuinely there to help. They find so many ways to get involved in the community and let families experiencing homelessness know they have a place they can go for help. Its refreshing to know there are people at Save the Family willing to help even if they don't know you.
Save the Family has a skilled and compassionate team who is deeply committed to supporting families on their journey out of homelessness. As a Social Worker and mother, I am proud to support this organization and their mission.
I've been a donor of Save the Family's for the last three years, and I am consistently impressed with the stories they share about the people they help! It's truly inspiring how much support is provided toward such a great result. They help families go from homelessness to self-sufficiency in a matter of months.
I was drawn to Save the Family initially by their comprehensive support program for homeless families, but I remain a highly committed volunteer because of the amazing results they achieve with the families they work with. With clients who complete their program, the success rate is nearly 90% who remain financially and emotionally self sufficient after graduation. The other striking metric is that clients, on average, graduate from Save the Family after about eight months, which is about half the time of the national average for such programs. Save the Family has a small and very dedicated staff who produce amazing results. Volunteering there is a appreciated and gratifying.
Previous Stories
Save the Family has a remarkable record of success in supporting homeless families to become self sufficient. Professional Case Managers work closely with each client to guide and encourage them to take the steps needed to become self sufficient. It is not an easy process but nearly 90 % of the clients who graduate from the program become and remain self sufficient. The life skills taught and reinforced to all clients allows their confidence and self perception to improve and their life changes accordingly.
I am a volunteer and a donor and i am very impressed with the metrics Save the Family uses to track progress and success. The continuous success of Save the Family clients who complete the program reinforces my interests in volunteering and donating.
First United Methodist Church of Mesa is in partnership with Save the Family. Receiving direction from the Marketing and Outreach Director and the Volunteer Coordinator we are able to assist with special events, provide volunteers when needed, and hold donation drives As a congregation, we wanted to volunteer our time with an organization that services our community. Save the Family has a vital role in our community by combatting homelessness by providing assistance with housing and childcare, providing items of necessity for daily life and providing education. It is a wonderful, compassionate organization - one we are proud in which to be associated!
I am proud of the partnership between First United Methodist Church of Mesa and Save the Family. Save the Family is a professional yet very loving organization that truly cares about the people they serve. Their philosophy of lending people a hand up is changing lives.
Save the Family is a great nonprofit organization that helps so many people in Arizona! I went to their annual gala last year and heard from a former client who had her life totally transformed by her time at Save the Family. It was amazing to hear from someone who was directly helped - one of thousands of families Save the Family has helped over the years. I am proud to support this awesome organization doing great things for so many people.
Save the Family is a great organization. The staff truly care about the families served. They don't just find housing for families they also help them get better jobs so they can improve their life long-term. They provide child care, employment services, and the support a family needs so they are not homeless.
I have volunteered and been a donor to a few local organizations and Save the Family is heads above the rest.
Since I volunteered with Save the Family at an event at their Escobedo development I have been finding more ways to get involved.
They do more than help with housing. They help the families improve their finances so they can be self-sufficient. That is why I decided to become a donor.
You can tell that the staff truly cares about the families.
Save the Family is an asset to the community and serves so many who are in need. Hearing families' stories and how they have been helped is truly inspiring. If you're looking to support a great organization this one is highly recommended!
Save the Family is an amazing organization that truly cares about the success of its families. Save the Family takes a 3-prong approach when it comes to helping the families it serves by providing: housing, case management and support services which seems to be why 89% of the families served by STF last year have obtained permanent housing.
This organization is a god send to the East Valley! The foundation of this organization is strong and stable! They have a full menu of support for the family's they serve from case management, career services and development, programs for their youth, day care so the parents can take meetings, job interviews, training classes, spend time in the career center and the list goes on and on. They truly strive to address poverty, help the clients overcome homelessness and strive for self-efficiency!
This nonprofit is fantastic - I've met several clients who have graduated from Save the Family programming - they are all incredibly well supported, well educated and well prepared to break the cycle of poverty
Save the Family is doing amazing work with struggling families. As a donor, I appreciate their regular communication with real stories about the families they are helping. The obstacles faced by the families they highlight are simply astonishing. Save the Family is a force of hope and light for homeless families in my community. They surround each family with services and resources that put them on a path to self-sufficiency and make sure children in these families have every opportunity to thrive. I love this organization!!
This is a wonderful non-profit organization as they provide supportive services and housing to homeless families in Mesa and surrounding communities. They have excellent staff and volunteers who truly care about their clients and they host an amazing holiday celebration event for families in December.
I have been supporting Save the Family for several years. I continue to be impressed with the heartfelt involvement of the staff, the success stories of the clients, and the fact that the final goal is independence for the clients. The tools are provided to the clients to make the opportunity for the success that much higher. My roles have evolved over the years from volunteer, to donor, to board member.
Once we became acquainted with Save the Family we couldn’t stop finding ways to help and share the work of such a great organization. From helping homeless children enjoy a “normal” birthday, Christmas or childcare, to assisting adults help themselves and become self supporting, this organization has a heart for the homeless. We’ve assisted with sack lunches for clients, events for children, working at a fundraiser and donations of food and clothing. It feels good to support this organization!
I have been working with Save the Family for a year and a half, and in that short time, I have seen incredible success stories from clients who have learned to overcome their challenges and get on their way to self-sufficiency. Save the Family staff have an abiding commitment to ensuring that clients' needs are met in terms of immediate housing and supply needs as well as job and career development. The Board is focused on staying true to Save the Family's mission and avoids the temptation to chase funding money whose conditions would detract from that mission. It is an honor to serve on the board of this organization.
I've had the opportunity to work with Save the Family on multiple projects. They are a top notch organization and is absolutely deserving of any support you can give e.g. volunteering, financial contributions, etc.
They do a nice job helping people out and have a really nice used furniture and clothing store. They are always around helping with affordable living.
They have a great thrift store and offer a lot of volunteer possibilities. They do lots of good work in Mesa.
Thank you for running a wonderful thrift store and for helping out so many people with your free furniture and housing offers. you guys do a great job.
This is a scam. My 7 year old son and I were so happy the day we got into save the family. 4 months later I found out it was all lies. I was enrolled in a program for one year. They would pay my rent for 3 months after that I would gradually step up to paying more and more of my rent so by the 9 month I was self reliant and paying 90% of my rent. That did not happen by the 4th month I was told I had to pay 80% of my rent (I make 8.00 an hour) I was counting on those months so I could save for a car and get a better job. Needless to say my son and I have been kicked out of our apt, and they are suing me for the balance due on the one year lease. Please do not give anything to this organization I am not the only one that this has happened to. Once again I am homeless and a blame them for it all. If they would have lived up to there end of the agreement I would have been on my way instead I am right back to the start. Thanks you did a great job.
Review from CharityNavigator
I am a neighbor to Save the Family's facility and notice the great things they do every day. I especially love shopping their Thrift Store and talking to the volunteers who work there.
Save the Family has been a fantastic organization to work with. They are generous and kind with everyone they serve and an absolute pleasure to volunteer for. Great work to you all!
Save the Family has at its core the goal of empowering the family. These families have seen tough circumstances and, in some cases, the women are fleeing domestic violence and abuse situations. Save the Family helps to empower women to shape their lives and recover from trauma. Women and families are expected to be a part of their own building process. I have worked with Save the Family, both as a volunteer and as a community partner (I work with one of the community colleges). They empower their volunteers and all of those who interact with their agency with their positive movement toward growth.
Upon entering STF, I was greeted warmly by staff and presented with a tour. While on the tour, I learned more details about the organization's mission and the impact they have within the community. What I particularly like about volunteering at STF are the diverse opportunities volunteers can participate in. I really enjoy that STF has plenty of volunteer options that have allowed me to help a great organization and community that align with my interests and abilities.
I have attended several Baby Showers at Save the Family. I love that they help families build a framework for getting back on their feet. They provide housing, training, and any other assistance these families need to get re-introduced into society. The baby showers are one element of letting these women, who have come on hard times, know that there are other women who care about them and will gather around them and support them when they may not have other positive support in their lives. What Save the Family does is truly amazing. No judgment, just creating a way to get back into life without government assistance. AWESOME!
From the moment I took my first tour of this phenomenal organization, I knew that Save the Family understood how to conquer homelessness! Families are provided their own living space... a career center helps adults find meaningful, well-paying jobs for self-sufficiency...counseling and budgeting classes are available for all family members. Accountability is key and the high success rate of families who "graduate" is a testament to this fine organization's well proven model. The dedicated staff and 1000's of volunteers who serve are proud to be associsted with this 20 year old agency.
I served on the board of Save The Family Foundation of Arizona for 8 years. One of the things that I find most impressive about the organization is its ability to stay the course with clients until they are truly ready to be contributing members of society. The phrase, "Not a hand out but a hand up" is not a cliche for STF. Also, the percentage of donations that go straight into client services is extremely high for this kind of charity. I have found no one who spends their donors' money or their volunteers' time more effectively than Save The Family. It is, or should be, a role model for every charitable organization in Arizona and in the U.S.
Save the Family is not a hand-out, it is a way out of the cycle of homelessness, violence and poverty. By providing the basic needs - - four safe walls, food and clothing - - and dignity, this organization develops the whole person. Parents are taught to be better parents, better members of society and to grow holistically. Kids come out of the program with higher self-esteem, better grades and, most importantly, hope and pride. This organization is amazing.
I got involved with this group due to several reasons. - Great program and success rate. - Very accountable. We help the families become self sufficient. (It is not a handout.) - Excellent staff who care about their clients and help them be successful. - Their is definitely a need for this in the community. (Not a solution looking for a problem.)