By Catherine Reagor | Arizona Republic
Legislation to tackle Arizona’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis is in the works and will include bills to provide more renter protection and financing for affordable housing developments, change municipal zoning, help first-time homebuyers and moderate rent increases.
On (January 4), a group of Democratic legislators announced the housing bills they will start introducing next week. Early bills will call for extending Arizona’s low-income housing tax credit, which is set to expire next year, and allowing casitas, known as accessory dwelling units, statewide.
Instead of the big “omnibus” housing legislation that didn’t pass last session, the group of state senators and representatives plan to introduce individual bills this year.
“Arizona has one of the highest housing wages in the United States,” said state Rep. Analise Ortiz, D-Phoenix. “The average Arizonan must make more than $62,000 to afford a two-bedroom apartment.”
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