Catherine Reagor
Arizona Republic
Metro Phoenix renters struggling to afford high rents and the growing number of people without homes didn’t get the help they need from Arizona’s Legislature this year.
Bills, backed by Steve Kaiser, R-Phoenix, that could have spurred more housing development and expedited the building process died last week. That happened despite many of the state’s residents and lawmakers readily acknowledging the housing shortage and the biggest affordability gap in history.
Seniors, veterans and single parents are among those hardest hit by Arizona’s housing crisis.
One bill would have paved the way for higher-density housing near light rail with 20% of those new homes set aside for lower-income residents.
A second bill would have made it easier to build small homes, known as Accessory Dwelling Units or ADUs, next to single-family homes. To provide more affordable housing for seniors, the legislation would also have made obtaining permits easier for developing houses that could be shared. Some cities restrict where shared rentals can be built.
The legislation was paired down substantially from the original bill after much political wrangling, and many thought it would make it to the governor.
Still, too many didn’t think legislation was the answer.
