Meet Shirley

Shirley moved into Marquee Apartments in September 2023. Previously, she had been living in three different shelters across Mesa and Phoenix. The instability and stress of shelter life led her to search for a more permanent housing solution. A case manager from Central Arizona Shelter Services referred her to Marquee and supported her through the process—helping with paperwork, setting up utilities, and arranging transportation to her new home.

Shirley’s favorite part of living at Marquee is her spacious apartment, which allows her to move around comfortably in her wheelchair. She’s also grateful to have a washer and dryer, which has made a big difference for her. In addition, she’s felt welcomed and supported by both her neighbors and the leasing office team.

The leasing team has continued to be a great support system for Shirley. Since moving in, they’ve helped her connect with the Area Agency on Aging and assisted with her rental assistance application. They also helped her apply for a free smartphone and assisted with the activation process. One of her neighbors even went above and beyond, helping Shirley learn how to use her phone and pay bills online.

Shirley shared that if she weren’t living at Marquee, she would likely still be in a shelter—a place does not wish to return to. Now, she’s working toward her goal of moving back to Washington to be closer to the family and community she grew up with.