State budget includes hundreds of millions in housing funds
Staff Reports | Digital Free Press
Found part of the recently passed state budget, the Arizona Legislature has provided significant allocations to address affordable housing and to help those experiencing homelessness.
“[It is] a solid step in our ability and our efforts to create collaborative solutions for these deeply challenging issues affecting the most vulnerable in our community,” said Human Services Campus CEO Amy Schwabenlender of the newly passed state budget.
“We are deeply grateful to Gov. Katie Hobbs and members of the Arizona Legislature for understanding that housing is healthcare and doing what we can to prevent individuals from losing their homes and being able to provide the housing that is so desperately needed is vital,” Ms. Schwabenlender said in a prepared statement.
The budget, which passed last week and was signed today by Gov. Hobbs includes the following one-time allocations:
- $150 million to the state’s Housing Trust Fund, which finances affordable housing projects;
- $60 million for homeless shelters and other homeless services ($20 million this fiscal year and $40 million next fiscal year);
- $5 million for the state’s mobile home relocation fund;
- $5 million for corrections transitional and re-entry housing;
- $5 million for a program for homeless veterans; and
- $1.9 million for military transitional housing.
State budget includes hundreds of millions in housing funds
“Just looking out my window, the challenges of homelessness are obvious,” Ms. Schwabenlender points out.
“Every day we see around 900 experiencing homelessness on the Human Services Campus with another 700 to 800 people living on the streets around the campus. Our campus partners and those in the community with whom we collaborate are working furiously to address the issue and provide the services and resources that are needed. This funding will make a difference.”
Ms. Schwabenlender added that the challenges of homelessness become even more extreme during the “summer months which are upon us and for which we are in a constant state or preparedness.”
To assist in those efforts, the public is encouraged to donate water, electrolyte powdered drink packets, sunscreen and SPF lip balm, solid grey bandanas (no patterns), sun hats, baseball caps, sunglasses, insulated water jugs (half-gallon preferred) and cooling wraps and towels.
Donations of hygiene items and pet supplies are always accepted. A complete list of ‘Wish List items including general goods, move-in essentials, emergency essentials and fresh start essentials can be found HERE.
