Many thrift and consignment stores sell unique antique and vintage items. From a pair of 2016 Chanel espadrilles, Kate Spade purses, to a hand-painted set of dining room chairs and vintage wall signs, Belongings Thrift Shop has everything old to new. However, what make Belongings special is not only what they sell but also what the store offers the Phoenix homeless community.

Belongings is a consignment store with a unique feature selling home décor, antiques, furniture, artwork and designer items that have been donated. All donations are up-cycled, turning old into new. Belongings is operated by UMOM New Day Center—the largest shelter for homeless families in Arizona—and all proceeds are recycled back into the UMOM toward the mission to prevent and end homelessness.

UMOM does not strictly offer temporary housing. Instead UMOM works with transferring families into permanent housing and assisting in landing a job. It is not your ordinary homeless shelter just like Belongings is not an ordinary thrift store. They are focused on making an impact on the community and individual lives.

The residents at the UMOM campus—a campus of closed motels that have been remodeled into apartments—are offered a nine-week training program that will teach them communication skills, sale skills and give them retail experience by volunteering with Belongings says Caitlin Clifford, store manager.

Belongings is also working on creating partnerships with outside retail stores to allow the residents who complete the training program to transfer into a job outside of Belongings ass well as receive more outside donations to be sold at the store.

“The goal of Belongings is to support the mission of UMOM by introducing innovative strategies that meet the unique needs of each family and individual that suffer from homelessness,” Clifford says.

Belongings is located at the UMOM campus at the Travel Lodge at 3307 E. Van Buren Street. Belongings’ hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit belongingsthrift.org or call 602.753.3440.