By June 30, Faith-based Sign On Letter: Help stop cyclical homelessness by supporting Housing First, a strategic model that helps stop cyclical homelessness and keeps the most vulnerable stably housed. From ELCA Advocacy.

The social message “Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment” states that housing is a fundamental right even though policies and practices of government and economic institutions are not adequately responding.

The results of a national opinion poll reveals that the public is deeply concerned about the housing affordability crisis and favors decisive government action. The Tarrance Group conducted the poll and found that nearly 9 in 10 (89%) respondents across all political parties believe the role of government is important when it comes to making sure there is enough affordable housing.

This fall, as Congress continues to work on an historic new infrastructure package, it is an opportune moment to encourage our lawmakers to support greater access to affordable housing.

Some 290,000 households received the aid in June, up from 160,000 in May and 100,000 in April. Still, more than 11 million Americans, or 16% of U.S. renters, say they aren’t caught up with their housing payments as the eviction ban expiration date of July 31 looms.

Metro Phoenix had an eviction problem before the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents in Maricopa County were more than twice as likely to lose a home to eviction than the typical U.S. resident from 2014-2018. On July 31, the final eviction moratorium will expire, and evictions are expected to return to their pre-pandemic pace — if not exceed it.

Many evictions in the U.S. are on hold for at least one more month. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention's ban on some types of rental evictions had been set to expire this week, but it has now been extended through July.

To catch us up on what that means in Arizona, The Show spoke with KJZZ’s Katherine Davis-Young.

“This is one of the largest expansions of an anti-poverty program we’ve probably ever seen,” said Elyssa Schmier, vice president of government relations and national budget at the advocacy organization MomsRising. “It will likely cut poverty in half over the next year, childhood poverty in particular.”

Roughly 10% of renters over age 65 are behind on their rent, according to a recent analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. That means some 800,000 older people may be at risk of having to leave their homes when the national eviction moratorium expires on [July 31].

Phoenix area evictions didn’t stop during the pandemic. Here’s why.

HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge unveiled on May 26 details of the housing provisions in the administration’s proposed “American Jobs Plan.” The plan includes $45 billion for the national Housing Trust Fund for construction and preservation of homes affordable to people with the lowest incomes, and major investments to rehabilitate and preserve the nation’s public housing stock.

As legislators discuss funding levels in the FY2022 federal budget later this Spring, it is a critical time to highlight the housing and homeless needs in our communities. In a time when those of us struggling with housing insecurity need help the most, let’s insist that Congress meets our annual housing needs in the federal budget.

Summer 2020 marked the hottest summer on record for Arizona. Maricopa County experienced 53 days of temperatures above 110 degrees or higher and 145 days of 100 degrees or higher. The month of August 2020 marked the hottest month ever recorded in Maricopa County.

Every year, the National Low Income Housing Coalition publishes the Advocates’ Guide to Housing and Community Development Policyto educate advocates of all kinds about the programs and policies that make housing affordable to low-income people across America. 

Wednesday, April 14 is National Call-In Day to urge Congress to include in the American Jobs Plan a major expansion of rental assistance; $70 billion to repair public housing; and an investment of $40 billion in the national Housing Trust Fund to build and preserve affordable housing.

From pandemic-related rent relief to fair housing and homeownership policy, here's how you can expect housing to be impacted by the Biden administration.

President Biden signed into law on March 11 the American Rescue Plan Act, a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package with nearly $50 billion in essential housing and homelessness assistance, including $27.4 billion for rental assistance and $5 billion to assist people experiencing homelessness.

“We will be feeling the effects of the pandemic for quite some time, and few will suffer more than people experiencing homelessness,” said Mayor Kate Gallego. “These additional monies, invested in the city’s human services partners, will go a long way to easing that pain.”