KJZZ: Maricopa County gives Phoenix $10M for low-income housing

Christina Estes, KJZZ

More low-income housing units are in the works for Phoenix, thanks to money from the county and federal government.

Maricopa County will give Phoenix $10 million from its share of federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act. Five million will go toward converting a former 125-room Super 8 Motel off Interstate 17 and Northern Avenue into supportive housing in Councilwoman Betty Guardado’s district.

“This will create safe, affordable housing at a critical time for our community,” She said during Monday’s council meeting.

The new units in Guardado’s district will be prioritized for people over the age of 55 and will be accessible or adaptable for people with disabilities.

The other $5 million will support redevelopment efforts to deconcentrate poverty east of downtown in Councilwoman Kesha Hodge Washington’s district.

“And it will be providing 109 new units of affordable and mixed income housing in District 8,” she said.

Mayor Kate Gallego pointed out the units would range from one to five bedrooms, “When we had the meetings about the Edison-Eastlake redevelopment, people really were excited about the potential for larger affordable housing units because we have families that need that size.”

Construction on those units, associated with the Horizon on Villa community, is expected to begin in summer 2024.The location, bordered by Villa and McKinley streets from 18th to 20th streets is on the former A.L. Krohn Homes public housing site.

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