Phoenix will give landlords $2,000 for renting to very low-income residents. Earlier this month, the City Council approved increasing the incentive from $500 to help Section 8 Housing Choice voucher holders.
Phoenix Housing Director Titus Mathew said landlords will be paid when they execute a one-year contract with a resident.
“The voucher holders are currently are struggling to find rental units in Phoenix,” he said. ”This will give them an added advantage to help them find housing.”
Voucher holds pay 30% of their income to rent and utilities while Phoenix uses federal dollars to cover the rest. The city has 16,000 people on a waiting list for Section 8 vouchers.
In August 2020, the council approved $500,000 of federal CARES Act funding to start the landlord incentive program. In September 2021, the council approved $1million of ARPRA federal funding to continue the program.
In July 2021, Chandler increased its incentive to private landlords from $400 to $1,000. Mathew said Maricopa County and Tucson currently offer $500 and are considering increases.
