Arizona Housing Facts
In our weekly series, we have been sharing information about our policy priorities. This is the final installment; look back at our blog to learn about the rest of our policy priorities!
The Lutheran Perspective
Throughout the Bible, God calls us many times to care for those in need, including and especially those without adequate shelter. For Christians, housing has been one of the longest focuses of our charitable and organizational efforts. However, so much of policy, from zoning laws to tax rates to wages, affect the state of housing in Arizona, and we at LAMA know that churches and their charities cannot fix the issue on their own.
As Lutherans, we have long been involved with housing justice, through our ministries and churches. In 1990, the ELCA adopted an official Social Message on Homelessness to help congregations focus their efforts:
“God's mandate concerning people who exist on the margins of society is clear: ‘Give justice to the weak and the orphan; maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked’ (Pss 82:3-4). Working for justice with and for homeless people is doing God's will…. We are called to be aware of and concerned for people in our midst who are vulnerable to losing their housing. Neighborhood and community initiatives are needed. Effective political and economic policies to assure housing, employment, literacy, and health services for low-income families can help people who are potentially homeless.”
In this vein of care and love for our neighbors, we advocate for policies which make housing more affordable and accessible. We invite you to join us in working towards an Arizona where all are able to be safe, secure, and sheltered.
Quick Facts
Arizona is among the worst states for housing affordability.
21% of all renters are extremely low-income and severely-cost burdened, even though 60% of them are retired or in the labor force.
Seniors are the fastest growing population of housing insecure; 54% of seniors spend 30% or more of their income on housing.
Over 30% of people experiencing homelessness are women with children; affordability is a key driver in increases in homelessness.
In today’s market, a worker in Arizona would need to make $29.93/hr to sustainably rent a 2-bedroom apartment. A minimum wage earner would have to work 86 hours/week.
Rents have increased 40-50% across the state while wages have increased 4-10%.
The Phoenix area alone has a deficit of more than 200k affordable rental units.
Policies – historical policies and systemic discrimination prohibited marginalized populations from owning a home and building generational wealth; inclusionary and exclusionary zoning laws; and no source of income discrimination protection.
We are advocating for…
The legislature to continue seeking guidance from the Inter Agency Council on Housing and Homelessness
Making eviction laws more equitable
Support for existing emergency shelters, and the expansion/construction of more emergency shelter programs
Policies addressing affordable housing
A Special Thank You goes out to Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest, for providing us with this information and for their partnership on the issues of Housing and Homelessness.
