Federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act is allowing Maricopa County to make its biggest investment ever in affordable housing projects. The County Board of Supervisors this month approved $35 million for several new housing programs. In total, the county has dedicated $65 million in ARPA funds to housing initiatives.
In a typical year, the county spends about $2 million on housing programs, Maricopa County Human Services director Jacqueline Edwards told KJZZ News.
“Being able to invest $65 million and really add to our affordable housing stock is really a once in a lifetime opportunity,” Edwards said.
In the latest round of funding, the county pledged about $4.5 million for a down payment assistance program that will be administered by the organization Newtown. Edwards said that will be enough for approximately 128 low- or middle-income Maricopa County families to be able to receive up to $35,000 each to put toward a down payment for a house. Households must have incomes at or below 120% of the Area Median Income to qualify. Participants will also go through financial and homeownership counseling.
"It really allows low- or moderate-income families to enjoy the benefits of being a homeowner, and moreover, it strengthens the surrounding community" Edwards said.
The county is also investing in several new affordable housing construction projects. It will invest $2.5 million in a new 25-home community Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona is planning near Alta Vista Road and 13th Place in Phoenix. $1.5 million will go toward a 66-unit affordable rental project at Seventh Avenue and Camelback Road in Phoenix. And $480,000 will go toward construction and down payment assistance for 12 affordable single-family homes in Wickenburg.
The county also plans to spend $10.2 million on Community Land Trust projects. In these projects, the land a home sits on is owned by a trust, but the actual home is sold below market value to buyers who meet certain income requirements. The county will spend about $5 million on properties in Gila Bend and $5.2 million on sites throughout the Phoenix area.
