Overcoming affordability issues in housing: An exploration of Arizona's strategies for resolving the housing crisis
Tempe, Arizona, is taking significant strides to address the issue of housing affordability, with several initiatives aimed at providing affordable homes, condos, and apartments to income-qualified households.
One of the key programs is "Hometown for All," managed by the Tempe Coalition for Affordable Housing (TCAH). This initiative, introduced in January 2021, is designed to increase the housing supply for Tempe's diverse residents and future residents. The program includes the purchase of vacant lands for future development, such as a parcel on Apache Boulevard intended for 40-50 affordable rentals.
The city's commitment to affordable housing is further demonstrated by the "Tempe Housing Action Plan," a program launched by the city to increase housing affordability for the future. The city has also shown its commitment by investing in projects like the Apache Central project, which was initiated to prevent the creation of a food desert and to bring affordable housing and a grocer back to the location.
In November 2021, Tempe voters passed a $32 million bond proposal, with $8 million to be used for creating more affordable housing in Tempe over the next four years. This investment will undoubtedly contribute to the city's efforts to address the housing supply issue.
The lack of housing supply in Tempe, Arizona, makes it more difficult to create affordable housing for residents. To combat this, TCAH, which owns a portfolio of over 70 affordable properties, intends to keep them permanently affordable for Tempe residents.
Apart from addressing the housing supply issue, the city is also working to protect homeowners' rights. Dennis Legere, the founder of the Arizona Homeowners Coalition, started the organisation in 2016 after realizing nobody was advocating for homeowners during discussions about homeowners associations' laws and problems. The Arizona Homeowners Coalition prioritizes affordable housing and advocates for homeowners during legislative processes, proposing legislation to legislators on an annual basis.
Irma Hollamby Cain, the executive director of TCAH, shares a vision of a world where every person has a safe and secure place to call home. Mayor Corey D. Woods of Tempe believes that affordable housing is essential for promoting diversity in a city.
However, Arizona faces challenges in creating affordable housing, such as the lack of access to some tools used in other states, like inclusionary zoning and Tax Increment Financing. High land values in Tempe can also make it harder to create housing affordability due to the need to recover investments.
Despite these challenges, Tempe is making a concerted effort to address the issue of housing affordability. Solving the problem of housing supply could help stabilize or drive down housing market prices, making housing more accessible for more people. This, in turn, could promote diversity and foster a thriving community in Tempe.
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