Families with children or pregnant women
Required. The campus is built around two-bedroom family homes; we don't house single adults without children.
For families seeking housing
A two-bedroom home for your family — for up to a year — while you get back on your feet.
House of Refuge is a neighborhood of 88 family homes on the former Williams Air Force Base in Mesa. We house families with children and pregnant women — not single adults, not shelter beds — and we pair the home with case management, employment coaching, and on-campus programs for the kids.
Eligibility
Who this is for
We're upfront about what's required so you can decide in three minutes whether to call. These are firm requirements, not preferences — they exist because the program is built around stable, longer-term housing rather than a single night.
Verifiable income of at least $1,170 a month
Required. Wages, disability, child support, or a combination — what matters is that it's documented and ongoing.
Ability to pay $400 a month rent
Required. Utilities are included. Rent is paid monthly while you live on campus.
Willing to work with a case manager
Required. Every family is paired with a case manager and participates in on-campus services — that's the model.
Typical stay is up to a year
Good to know. The goal is graduation into stable, permanent housing of your own — 89% of our families get there.
Pets and household specifics
Good to know. Some situations are case-by-case — pets, custody paperwork, household size. Call and we'll talk it through.
What intake looks like
Five steps from the first call to move-in.
No portal, no application form to wrestle with on a phone. The first step is a conversation with a real person.
01 — Call us
Call (480) 988-9242. We'll talk through your situation and whether House of Refuge is the right fit for your family.
02 — In-person intake meeting
If we're a fit, we'll schedule an intake meeting on campus in Mesa to go through paperwork and questions in detail.
03 — Bring your documents
ID for every household member, income verification, and custody paperwork if applicable. The list below covers it.
04 — Tour a home, meet your case manager
You'll walk through one of the two-bedroom homes and meet the case manager you'll be working with for your stay.
05 — Move-in scheduled
We set a move-in date together. From there, you start working the plan: employment, savings, the path to permanent housing.
What to bring
Documents for the intake meeting.
Bring what you have. If something on this list is missing or stuck somewhere, tell us on the phone — we've helped families work through almost every paperwork situation, and we'd rather talk it through than have you turn around at the door.
Photo ID
Driver's license, state ID, or passport for each adult in the household.
Birth certificates or ID for children
For every child who will be living on campus with you.
Income verification
Recent pay stubs, an offer letter, disability award letter, child support documentation — anything that shows income of at least $1,170 a month.
Custody paperwork (if applicable)
Court orders or custody agreements for any child whose custody is shared or contested.
Social Security cards
For each household member, if you have them.
A list of any current case workers or referrals
Names and phone numbers for any caseworker, shelter, or agency already working with your family.
Missing a document? Call us anyway — (480) 988-9242. We'll figure out what we can do.
Beds full or the fit isn't right? Call 211.
House of Refuge is transitional housing for families — not an emergency shelter, and not a fit for every situation. If you need a bed tonight, or if our requirements aren't a match, dial 211 in Arizona for the statewide referral line. They can route you to emergency shelter, domestic violence services, and other housing resources in the East Valley. If you're not sure where you fit, call us first — we'll point you the right direction.
Call (480) 988-9242