In 2019, housing affordability was a significant concern for residents of Tempe, where 37% of households were cost-burdened, compared to the national rate of 33%. As a Senior Advisor, I collaborated with the City of Tempe to develop a strategic goal of increasing affordable housing stock by 10% over five years.

 

Through our engagement, the city enhanced its methods for tracking the number of affordable housing units and identified effective strategies to boost affordable housing availability. Additionally, the City of Tempe announced the adoption of several evidence-based housing strategies. These included the implementation of affordable housing statements, expanded use of incentives, and dedicated seed funding to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

 

These initiatives were designed to address the housing affordability crisis, making it easier for residents to find affordable housing and improving the overall quality of life in Tempe.Quote from Mayor Mark Mitchell from release about the new affordable housing strategy:

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“In Tempe, we care about our neighbors and we want them to thrive. Having affordable places to live, to raise families and to dream about the future is a critical part of their success. The Affordable Housing Strategy is an important guide for us as we work to expand and preserve housing that meets the full range of incomes in Tempe.”