Life-expectancy gap between south Phoenix, north Scottsdale is 14 years. Partnership aims to help

Maricopa County is partnering with Arizona State University to address what county officials say is a 14-year life expectancy gap between residents in south Phoenix and north Scottsdale.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to approve $1 million in funding to address various aspects of health in the south Phoenix community over five years.

Supervisor Steve Gallardo said in a statement that he knew something had to be done:

”When I heard just how big the life expectancy gap is between folks in my district and folks in other parts of town, I knew we had to do something,” he said.

Gallardo represents Legislative District 5, which includes south Phoenix.

Research shows that the gap is actually even larger for Black and Hispanic south Phoenix communities, at 17 years instead of 14, due in part to the COVID-19 pandemic.

ASU and the EHF have already held six meetings to gather feedback from the community about what can be improved.

Now, the focus will be on implementing various programs in south Phoenix to improve the community’s overall quality of life and to close the life expectancy gap between the two communities.