Phoenix Officials Have Plan For 50,000 New Housing Units By 2030

PHOENIX, AZ — City officials in Phoenix are taking specific steps to address the housing shortage in America's fifth most populous city. The city unveiled this week the "Housing Phoenix Plan," which sets a goal to create or preserve 50,000 more housing units by 2030.

Even if achieved, that would still be less than one-third of what's currently needed. A recent housing gap analysis shows the city has a need for 163,067 additional housing units, according to data shared in the city plan.

The plan includes nine "policy initiatives," which include supporting affordable housing legislation, amending the city zoning ordinance to create more housing options and prioritizing new housing in "areas of opportunity."

The first step, according to the plan, is for the city to "develop an objective place-based scoring matrix" that will "help communicate to decision makers the importance of the proposed project and help developers reduce the cost of zoning through a more streamlined process."

The project “works to address our many housing needs and recommends innovative, solution-oriented policies to create a better Phoenix for all," Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said. "This plan brings us a step closer to becoming the city we all want for ourselves, our children and our future."

Cindy Stotler, director of the city's housing department, said many of the recommendations made in the plan will not cost anything. While not every source of funding for the project is known, some money will come from the city's federal Community Development Block Grant and HOME funds.

"We are working on the implementation of the nine policy objectives now and will identify funding sources for various programs as we work on implementation," Stotler said.