Lack of funding contributing to Arizona s affordable housing shortage
The cost of building affordable homes isn t worth it for most developers.
and last updated 2021-03-04 20:56:55-05
Valley non-profit UMOM is known for shelter, supportive and rehousing services for families experiencing homelessness, but for the past several years it has also branched off into real estate development of affordable housing.
One of its latest builds, Bethany Crossing, is located at Bethany Home Road and 69
th Avenue in Glendale. When complete it will provide subsidized two and three-bedroom apartments for 72 families.
âFamilies who will move into Bethany Crossing, they are not homeless, but they are struggling to make ends meet,â said Jackson Fonder CEO of UMOM.
Tax credit program answers need for affordable housing
Civil engineer and worker discussing issues at the housing construction site (Stock photo/Deposit Photo)
In the same way as the Covid pandemic has negatively impacted the Arizona economy and many families’ personal finances, the past year has placed even more pressure on the state’s housing market – in particular, the need to build more affordable rental housing.
Even before the pandemic, about 120,000 people were moving to Arizona each year. Such exponential growth means that our state needs to build an estimated 240,000 new rental units this decade. What would have been a major challenge under favorable pre-pandemic economic conditions has now become a behemoth task. With property owners struggling under the various eviction bans enacted to protect renters from losing their homes – and in many cases facing non-payment or reduced payment of rent for the past 10 months – the capital to build new affordable housing re
Renter advocates urge Biden to extend eviction protections on Inauguration Day
New hope for renters falling behind as advocates push for automatic eviction ban.
and last updated 2021-01-08 00:10:00-05
PHOENIX â On Wednesday, the U.S. Treasury issued guidance to states about how to apply for the $25 billion in rental assistance that was approved in the new COVID relief bill, but the money likely won t make it to renters before federal eviction protections expire.
States have until January 12 to complete and return the application. Arizona is working through the paperwork, according to Ben Petersen, spokesman for Governor Doug Ducey. But with the Center for Disease Control s moratorium on evictions scheduled to expire on January 31, renter advocates are pushing President-elect Joe Biden for more time.
Eviction Moratorium extended, but may not be enough to help
It still may not be enough to help those in need.
and last updated 2020-12-31 20:19:36-05
New Year s Eve was supposed to mark the expiration of eviction protections for renters enacted by the Centers for Disease Control. But the newly passed COVID relief bill has given those facing eviction one more month in their homes to allow millions in new rental assistance funds to be distributed.
All states are waiting for the U.S. Department of Treasury to disburse the money, according to Ben Petersen, spokesman for Governor Doug Ducey.