Hope After Homelessness

Send us Fan MailA child shouldn’t have to choose between staying quiet and staying safe, but that’s the reality for too many families facing homelessness and food insecurity. We’re joined by Dawn Marie, CEO of Help Now AZ, whose own childhood experience without stable housing shaped a mission that now supports at-risk, displaced, and homeless kids across the Phoenix area and beyond. Her perspective is raw, specific, and grounded in what it actually feels like to not know where you’ll sleep tonight. We talk about what Help Now AZ does day to day, why the need is often invisible, and what it means when Dawn says “one in five children” in our community is impacted. You’ll hear how schools become the front line for identifying need, why families may be afraid to ask for help, and why real change takes more than a one-time handout. This conversation also digs into the hard choices behind building a nonprofit: starting in a garage, scaling to 22 school districts and about 300 schools, and choosing purpose over comfort. Dawn walks us through the programs that make the mission practical: thousands of Help Snacks bags each month with handwritten positive messages, food boxes for families, a major back-to-school event, an adopt-a-family holiday push, and monthly life skills classes focused on budgeting, resumes, health, and stability. We also cover how to volunteer, attend open houses, bring your company for a team building event, sponsor the work, and support the annual gala fundraiser. If you care about child homelessness in Arizona, nonprofit volunteering in Phoenix, or real community impact that you can actually join, this is your next listen. Subscribe, share this with someone local, and leave a review to help more people find the mission. What part of the story hit you the hardest?HELP Now AZ is breaking the cycle of homelessness and hardship by empowering children and families with immediate resources, education, and long-term support. From providing food and essential needs to creating opportunities that build stability and brighter futures, we believe every child deserves the chance to thrive. Together, we can turn compassion into action and create lasting change in our community. Learn more, get involved, volunteer, or give today by visiting our website. 👉 HELP Now AZ Listen Now! Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and all major platforms.🔗 Follow & Connect:🌐 iamvoz.comInstagram: @TheDJVozFacebook: facebook.com/Imvoz🎤 Join the Conversation:Use #IAmVoz #ProveItToYourself #EntrepreneurMindset #Wolfpack and share your biggest takeaway!