Regional Community Partners, the nonprofit arm of the Maricopa Association of Governments, received $500,000 in grant funding from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation to support local governments in the development and preservation of housing people can afford.

During the last 10 years, the Phoenix metropolitan region has lost 86 percent of rental units that are less than $1,000 a month and 75 percent of homes that are less than $300,000 from our market. Increasing housing costs contribute to increasing homelessness rates, which have doubled over the same 10-year period.

“As our entire region works to tackle the affordable housing shortage, many communities, including Phoenix, are taking on the difficult but much-needed challenge of diversifying their housing portfolios,” says Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “Through this funding, expert technical assistance can be provided to help cities in Maricopa County identify and build more housing options, ultimately ensuring all of our residents can find an affordable place to call home.”

The $500,000 grant over two years will support two main activities. First, an inventory will be developed of the priorities, best practices, and needs of local and tribal governments in their efforts to preserve affordable rents and mortgages. Based on this information, local and tribal governments will be matched with qualified consultants to provide technical assistance and address their capacity-building needs.

A final report will be produced at the conclusion of the effort highlighting lessons learned and tools developed as a result of the deployment of technical assistance. It is envisioned that the insights gained can serve as modeled resources to communities throughout the region and beyond.