A new round of federal funding is headed to Tucson for a project to equip mobile homes for climate change.
The city is receiving $1.5 million from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Officials say the grant is the latest step in a 2012 city housing plan that identified mobile homes as the single-most affordable type of housing.
A 2019 study from the University of Arizona found roughly 10% of Tucson residents live in mobile homes — about double the rate in Phoenix. But those structures can be prohibitively expensive to cool down and they aren’t well equipped to handle rising temperatures due to climate change.
The funding will be used to revamp or replace mobile homes with more climate resilient models, and provide utility assistance to low and middle income occupants.
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In November, Phoenix unanimously approved its middle housing ordinance to comply with a state law that passed in 2024. The ordinance allows multifamily housing in downtown, including in once protected historic neighborhoods. -
Arizona short-term rental operators say they oppose legislation that would put new restrictions on the industry, but may have common ground with their opposition — both sides see an issue with large, out-of-state organizations buying up the housing supply. -
HB 2682 would set aside $5 million to create a new rental assistance program in Arizona. Qualifying renters would be able to apply for up to $5,000 to cover up to two months of rent. -
As Arizona’s legislative session begins, housing affordability continues to be a priority for many lawmakers. Will they be able to agree on potential solutions? -
Phoenix has been grappling with the problem of affordable housing for years now. We are one of the fastest-growing housing markets in the country, but we still don’t have enough of it.
