VIRTUAL EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT:
ON THE AGENDA: AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TUESDAY, AUGUST 25TH AT 1 PM EDT
A place to call home has always been a basic need and yet the lack of safe, affordable housing remains an issue today.
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On the sidelines of the 2020 Republican Convention,
The Hill will host discussions on what can be done to ensure all Americans have access to a safe and affordable home.
> Miami Mayor Francis Suarez > Mesa, AZ Mayor John Giles
> A panel of housing experts join The Hill's Steve Clemons
As Americans go to the polls in 2020, many are feeling the crunch of economic fallout due to the COVID crisis. This has uprooted the lives of those living paycheck-to-paycheck and turned “home” into an expense many simply cannot afford.
Mesa Mayor John Giles flashes a MesaCARES undershirt
As these problems persist, housing is a growing concern during this election cycle
Tags: #TheHillHousing2020
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On the sidelines of the 2020 Democratic Convention, The Hill will host a discussion with policymakers, housing advocates and industry experts to explore what can be done to ensure all Americans have access to a safe and affordable home.
KEY TOPICS
> Will a moratorium on evictions and mortgage forbearance be enough to keep Americans in their homes?
> How do we ensure not just affordability, but sustainability in our housing developments?
> Will housing be a key voter issue in 2020?
ON THE AGENDA: AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Will Hizzoner John Giles be
A cheerleader for Affordable Housing
On the sidelines of the
Republic National Convention 2020?
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04 March 2020
Plenty of reasons from a closely-connected network of cohorts promoting "luxury living" here in Downtown Mesa
YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
Where is the leadership here in Mesa?
Giles has stated he's afraid of the recent findings in the annual Point-In-Time Count of The Homeless.
District 4 Councilmember Jennifer Duff?
Mebbe she can learn a lot from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
_________________________________________________________________________YOU KNOW WHO THEY ARE.
Where is the leadership here in Mesa?
Giles has stated he's afraid of the recent findings in the annual Point-In-Time Count of The Homeless.
District 4 Councilmember Jennifer Duff?
Mebbe she can learn a lot from Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
Here on MesaZona:
HOLD ON!
A totally different story of an investor that had a vision
A totally different story of an investor that had a vision
20 May 2018
Thanks to a series of media reports about a "Massive Mormon Temple Make-Over that could transform downtown", the public is finding out more about the For-Profit real estate acquisition and expansion enterprises of The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-Day Saints here in Mesa and the entire Phx East Valley.
Shall we call it "Preaching The Gospel of Prosperity" ?
More
Shall we call it "Preaching The Gospel of Prosperity" ?
More
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04 June 2020
Time is Running Out for Affordable Housing in Opportunity Zones
Here in Mesa, it looks like most development has shifted to the southeast quadrant. As for
"affordable housing" ... not much
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joined Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Mesa Mayor John Giles and Tempe Vice Mayor Corey Woods to help launch the transit-oriented development (TOD) program—a joint effort of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Raza Development Fund (RDF).
Terry Benelli, LISC Phoenix executive director, said that TOD investments are particularly valuable for distressed neighborhoods that struggle to attract capital.
“We want to make sure lower income areas can take advantage of TOD gains, just as more affluent communities do,” she said. “The combined $30 million from LISC and RDF will encourage development in areas that might otherwise be overlooked.”
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2015
Light-rail construction is in progress on Main Street in downtown Mesa.
"Mesa’s evolving downtown needs housing to thrive. On that much, the City Council agrees.
But the vision for what that housing should look like — in terms of location, financing and target demographics — is more than a little muddled.
As light rail continues its march down Main Street, some officials argue a series of affordable-housing developments catering to low-income families and young people will be critical. Those populations often use public transportation, they say, and could help foster a more constant hum of activity in the city’s core.
Others support only a fraction of the affordable-housing proposals their colleagues endorse, insisting Mesa must be selective and hold off for more market-rate developments. If downtown becomes an increasingly desirable place to live, the city will regret having approved complexes with rent restrictions, they say.
The clashing perspectives came to a head late last month in a rare split vote. . .
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Credit: Home Matters to Arizona
By Angela Gonzales for Phoenix Business Journal
In an effort to bring more affordable housing units to Arizona, a group of health care CEOs have gotten together to create a $100M fund to help finance these construction projects.
So far, Aetna, Dignity Health and UnitedHealthcare have committed $35M in below-market debt that can be used by this fund to support projects to increase the number of affordable housing units, said Joe Gaudio, CEO of the west region for United Healthcare Community & State. . .
But it’s not just affordable housing these CEOs are thinking about.
The goal is to address social determinants of health to create supportive ecosystems for people where they live, learn, shop and work, Gaudio said.
For developers to qualify for this funding, their projects need to address these social determinants of health, such as where they live, their level of education and the type of job they hold that shape their health conditionAcross Arizona, rental homes available to extremely low-income households are in short supply, according to Home Matters to Arizona.
More than 134,758 units are needed in Arizona today, said Dave Brown, advisory council member for Home Matters to Arizona
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Mayors & CEOs
Kate GallegoMayor of Phoenix, AZ
Affordable housing developers have had a hard time making the Opportunity Zones tax benefits work with low-income housing tax credits (LIHTCs)—and the Opportunity Zones program expires in 2026.
Reference: Affordable Housing Finance 28. May 2020
Time is Running Out for Affordable Housing in Opportunity Zones
Developers are implementing strategies to access these tax benefits.
"Only a handful of affordable housing developers have managed to attract more investors and better tax credit pricing for projects in designated Opportunity Zones"
Here in Mesa, it looks like most development has shifted to the southeast quadrant. As for
"affordable housing" ... not much
_________________________________________________________________________8.24.2015 - Press Releases
LISC, Raza Development Fund pledge $30 million to spur transit-oriented development in low-income communities
PHOENIX (August 21, 2015) — Just days before the opening of the Central Mesa extension of the light rail, two local nonprofits have announced $30 million in funding to attract new housing and businesses to low-income communities along key transit corridors.LISC, Raza Development Fund pledge $30 million to spur transit-oriented development in low-income communities
U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx joined Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, Mesa Mayor John Giles and Tempe Vice Mayor Corey Woods to help launch the transit-oriented development (TOD) program—a joint effort of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) and Raza Development Fund (RDF).
Terry Benelli, LISC Phoenix executive director, said that TOD investments are particularly valuable for distressed neighborhoods that struggle to attract capital.
“We want to make sure lower income areas can take advantage of TOD gains, just as more affluent communities do,” she said. “The combined $30 million from LISC and RDF will encourage development in areas that might otherwise be overlooked.”
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2015
Mesa Council Debates Downtown Housing
Light-rail construction is in progress on Main Street in downtown Mesa.
Photo credit: Parker Leavitt/The Republic
By Maria Polletta for The Arizona Republic"Mesa’s evolving downtown needs housing to thrive. On that much, the City Council agrees.
But the vision for what that housing should look like — in terms of location, financing and target demographics — is more than a little muddled.
As light rail continues its march down Main Street, some officials argue a series of affordable-housing developments catering to low-income families and young people will be critical. Those populations often use public transportation, they say, and could help foster a more constant hum of activity in the city’s core.
Others support only a fraction of the affordable-housing proposals their colleagues endorse, insisting Mesa must be selective and hold off for more market-rate developments. If downtown becomes an increasingly desirable place to live, the city will regret having approved complexes with rent restrictions, they say.
The clashing perspectives came to a head late last month in a rare split vote. . .
Healthcare Providers to Fund Affordable Housing
Credit: Home Matters to ArizonaIn an effort to bring more affordable housing units to Arizona, a group of health care CEOs have gotten together to create a $100M fund to help finance these construction projects.
So far, Aetna, Dignity Health and UnitedHealthcare have committed $35M in below-market debt that can be used by this fund to support projects to increase the number of affordable housing units, said Joe Gaudio, CEO of the west region for United Healthcare Community & State. . .
But it’s not just affordable housing these CEOs are thinking about.
The goal is to address social determinants of health to create supportive ecosystems for people where they live, learn, shop and work, Gaudio said.
For developers to qualify for this funding, their projects need to address these social determinants of health, such as where they live, their level of education and the type of job they hold that shape their health conditionAcross Arizona, rental homes available to extremely low-income households are in short supply, according to Home Matters to Arizona.
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Mayors & CEOs
Arizona
John GilesMayor of Mesa, AZ
John GilesMayor of Mesa, AZ
“Unfortunately, and all too often, too many people in our cities struggle to know where they will next find a roof to sleep under or food to eat.
I’m excited to join with the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment initiative to shine a powerful light on these challenges and work towards solutions that will empower those in need while ensuring strong, safe communities.”
Kate GallegoMayor of Phoenix, AZ
"We know that more affordable housing and wrap-around health services are the most straightforward solutions to end homelessness in Phoenix and across the U.S.
But all stakeholders – local governments, the federal government, and businesses – must invest greater time and resources to make this concept a common reality. In Phoenix, we’re exploring the creation of entirely new incentives for affordable housing construction, and I believe that this powerful coalition of my fellow mayors and our great business community will help to generate new ideas to solve one of our nation’s greatest problems."
