New partnership aims to change narrative on homelessness

The United Methodist Outreach Ministries (UMOM) is working closely with the Social Television Network (STN) to debunk certain narratives about homelessness. STN was founded by a team of local journalists who work to bring community leaders together to make a difference.

Monique Lopez, CEO of United Methodist Outreach Ministries, and Eric Sperling, CEO of Social Television Network, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss their initiatives.

Lopez and Sperling shared their successes with their social enterprises and culinary programs to get clients back to work. They also shared important stats highlighting the 2:1 ratio of individuals facing homelessness.

“UMOM is Arizona’s largest provider of shelter for families experiencing homelessness,” Lopez said, “…we are really centered around employment, workforce development, case management services…wrapping all of those services around folks to get them into permanent housing.”

UMOM’s program primarily helps families and single mothers who are experiencing homelessness. Not only does UMOM help these individuals with employment and permanent housing, but they also build affordable housing developments around the community.

“We (STN) are a streaming network that really focuses on local leadership, actionable solutions, community growth,” Sperling said, “…we really focus on what are those systemic issues that we can…approach in real time.”

The Social Television Network was created by a team of local journalists who have worked in and around Arizona. Sperling explained that STN focuses on the solutions within a community rather than a problem.

“…a lot of families are couch surfing, they’re staying in cars, they’re in places that they’re really trying to keep their children with them and safe,” Lopez discussed, “…that’s often a myth that people think it looks a certain way…homelessness from singles to families doesn’t just look that way.”

Sperling emphasized how important it is for the community to be involved in these situations in order to slowly help address this issue.

“…rallying the business community around what these leaders are doing will only help them in their effort to reduce the numbers,” Sperling said.