What started at a church shelter turned into a wedding celebration on Friday afternoon in Tempe, as Abdul and Teresa Broner marked a new chapter in their relationship after battling homelessness.
The couple started dating six years ago and had never experienced homelessness before. In early 2026, they lost their jobs and housing.
“It spiraled out of control,” Teresa Broner said.
They ended up at the emergency shelter inside University Presbyterian Church and got connected to the Tempe Community Action Agency.
“They’ve been part of our shelter for the last couple of months and have just fully ingratiated themselves into our community,” TCAA CEO Phillip Scharf said.
Despite their situation, the couple got new jobs with the City of Tempe and moved into transitional housing while they plan to get into a long-term home next month.
“They are also both employed driving the city bus with the city of Tempe. They’re already into a transitional apartment as we wait for permanent housing for them,” Scharf said. “It’s just really, I think, the epitome of what we try to strive to do here.”
The couple asked the shelter and community leaders who helped them through what they described as the toughest time of their lives to celebrate with them as newlyweds.
The Tempe Community Action Agency partnered with multiple organizations that donated their time, food, music and the cake for the wedding at the same church shelter where the couple once stayed.
“There’s help out there if you want help,” Abdul Broner said.
“Anything is possible, especially if you stick together,” Teresa Broner said. “A lot of people did a lot to make this happen for us.”
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