Maricopa County is experiencing a rise in homelessness, including a 3% increase in total homelessness and a 28% increase in the unsheltered population.1 Homelessness has a lasting impact on health: people experiencing homelessness have higher rates of chronic diseases and premature death.2
UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona is supporting sustainable, community-led solutions through a $500K investment in Saving Amy, a Phoenix-based nonprofit founded in 2015 with the mission of creating community, transforming lives, and resolving homelessness. Saving Amy offers a proven three-year wraparound model to help families transition from homelessness to long-term stability. The program has a 100% success rate where all families continue to live in their own homes.³ UnitedHealthcare’s investment will enable Saving Amy to enroll 30 new families in its programs, which go beyond housing by addressing trauma recovery, transportation, employment readiness and academic support.
Melissa’s success story
Melissa, a single mother of five, was sleeping on the floor of her new apartment with her children when she was first connected with Saving Amy. They had no furniture, just a few blankets. The organization helped fully furnish her home, paid her first month’s rent and utilities, and ensured the family had food on the table.
With this strong foundation in place, Melissa soon secured full-time employment and began participating in more Saving Amy programs. Over the course of three years, she gained the skills and confidence to move her family to a safer neighborhood with better schools. Today, she is active in her community and mentors others working to rebuild their lives with Saving Amy. Melissa’s story is one of many that show how long-term support, tailored to a family’s full spectrum of needs, can break the cycle of poverty and homelessness.
Wraparound support that changes lives
The Saving Amy model is built on the recognition that leaving a shelter is just the beginning of a family’s journey to stability. Families exiting homelessness often lack not just housing, but access to transportation, health care and basic necessities. Saving Amy addresses these needs through five key programs:
- Rise Up provides early support for families transitioning out of shelters by offering essential supplies such as linens, kitchenware and hygiene items. This allows families to move into stable, functional living environments rather than empty apartments. Each family is paired with a dedicated mentor who meets with them regularly to set goals across housing, employment, financial stability, education and life skills.
- Rolling Forward addresses transportation challenges. Without a reliable way to get to work, school or appointments, families face daily disruptions that can jeopardize their progress. This program provides donated vehicles, car repairs, registrations, insurance, Lyft and Uber credits and bus passes for individuals to meet their obligations and maintain momentum toward their goals.
- Empowerment Through Therapy connects adults and children with licensed trauma-informed therapists across the Phoenix Valley. This program provides ongoing access to individualized therapy sessions, which are critical to helping families develop emotional resilience and process trauma. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona has collaborated with Saving Amy to extend the network of available therapists.
- THRIVE, a life skills program, equips families with the knowledge and confidence to manage their daily lives and plan for the future. The program offers workshops and hands-on training in essential areas such as budgeting, nutrition, career development and parenting. By strengthening these foundational life skills, families are better prepared to live independently and navigate the responsibilities of employment, parenting and financial management.
- Kids Go is designed to help children recover from the trauma and educational disruption of homelessness while preparing them for long-term success. The program matches each child with a dedicated mentor and provides school supplies, uniforms and tablets, as well as covering fees for medical, dental and extracurricular activities.
UnitedHealthcare’s grant directly supports each of these programs, ensuring families have access to the tools, relationships and resources that can make stability last. With an estimated cost of $16,200 per family in the first year, this funding helps cover essentials such as groceries, therapy sessions, tutoring, vehicle repairs and more, at no cost to the families served.
Building stronger communities, one family at a time
The homelessness crisis in Arizona cannot be solved with shelter alone. It requires a whole-person approach that promotes stability and long-term self-sufficiency. By addressing emotional health, transportation, education, life skills and community support, Saving Amy helps families break the cycle of housing instability. Through its commitment and investment in this work, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Arizona is supporting a more efficient and sustainable model, one that reduces repeat episodes of homelessness, maximizes existing housing resources and strengthens the overall effectiveness of the housing support system.
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