Yuma investing in affordable housing options
The city invites you to reach out to city administration or the mayor and council anytime you have a question about something around the city that you would like to see happen or have a question on any project in the city. We are happy to look into any issue and provide you an answer. You can send these questions or topics to sunquestions@yumaaz. gov. We believe in “United for Yuma” and making this a better community with all of us working together for a common goal.
Recently there was a Letter to the Editor by Mr. Arguelles that asked about more affordable housing for low-income individuals. We wanted to thank him for the questions and address them and his concerns.
The city of Yuma has recognized the need for more affordable housing for some time in the Yuma area and has been actively pursuing funding to accomplish it. U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as housing that takes no more than 30 percent of a families’ income. In the state of Arizona, there are only 26 affordable rentals available for every 100 low-income households searching for housing.
The city of Yuma has invested in affordable housing options within the city and is attracting new resources to keep “at risk” populations in safe housing but is required to work within the HUD affordable housing guidelines. Currently, the city owns and maintains approximately 300 rental units of singlefamily homes, townhomes, and apartments which are managed and maintained by the Housing Authority of the City of Yuma (HACY). In addition to managing the city rentsupported housing, HACY also helps more than 1,100 families rent privately owned homes throughout the city and county. Even with all of the housing units available, we know there is still a waiting list as Mr. Arguelles indicated.
Aside from the city efforts through HACY, the Neighborhood Services Division within the Department of Community Development administers and oversees initiatives with respect to affordable housing, neighborhood redevelopment, and use of federal funds to benefit low and moderate income people. The city receives funding from HUD via Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and more recently via the Home Investment Partnership Program (HOME). These funds have been significantly reduced by Congress each year for the last 10-plus years. These funds are used to keep existing homes in good condition and affordable for low- and fixed-income families. Some of these funds are also allocated to be used by nonprofit organizations that provide support to low-income individuals and families. New efforts are underway to partner with nonprofit organizations to create new true Affordable Housing in our community.
Despite limited funding, we have been able to accomplish some pretty significant things in the Carver Park area, and we have now moved our focus into the Mesa Heights area of the city to help with the revitalization of that neighborhood. Mr. Arguelles is correct in that we need to be focusing on the core areas of our city, where transportation options and services already exist. The city recognizes those needs and that is where our efforts are focused.
With major reductions in funding at the federal level, HACY and the city had to start looking at new and innovative ways to create more affordable housing. In that endeavor, HACY, the city of Yuma, and a private developer have entered into a “Public Private Partnership” (P3) to build a new, high-quality, affordable apartment complex on city of Yuma property along Arizona Avenue. This P3 project will provide 58 new apartments, a community room, a job-training facility, and supportive services available to residents and families living in the community. The site is located across the street from McGraw Elementary and Gila Vista Junior High Schools, so children can walk to school. It is also located on a current YCAT bus route, giving residents convenient access to public transportation. What is even better is that this is not just a plan, it is a reality.
We would like to invite the public to the groundbreaking for the Mesa Heights Apartments on August 4th at 8:30 a.m. at the vacant lot on the east side of Arizona Avenue, North of 22nd Street.
We know there are many needs out there, and we strive to meet as many of them as we can with the available funding.