Housing affordability and shortage
Phoenix faces rising rents, high eviction filings, many cost-burdened renters spending over 30% of income on housing, and a broader Arizona shortage of roughly 270,000 homes. District 4 (lowest median income, majority renters) is especially affected. The FY 2026-27 budget nearly doubles the Housing Trust Fund to about $15 million plus emergency assistance; candidates discuss Housing First, anti-displacement protections, and zoning reforms amid growth and redevelopment pressures.
What should Phoenix do about housing affordability and the local shortage?
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Sources
Phoenix City Council — https://ktar.com/arizona-news/phoenix-council-budget-approved
Housing: Nearly doubling the Housing Trust Fund to ~$15 million; additional funds for affordability and emergency assistance.
Ballotpedia / District candidates — https://ballotpedia.org/Michael_Mazzocco
Rents rising, high eviction filings (tens of thousands in some districts since 2020), cost-burdened renters... District 4 particularly affected... candidates push Housing First approaches, protections against displacement, and zoning reforms.
Organized Power in Numbers, Poder in Action — https://ktar.com/arizona-news/phoenix-council-budget-approved/5868050/
Progressive groups praised housing/homelessness investments but criticized insufficient emergency aid... relative to root-cause spending (affordable housing...).
Positions on this issue · liberal → conservative
- Heavily fund public/affordable housing, strong renter protections, and anti-displacement rules
- Increase Housing Trust funding, emergency aid, and targeted zoning for more affordable units
- Mix new supply incentives, moderate aid, and some renter supports with market reforms
- Focus on deregulation and private development incentives over direct subsidies or controls
- Minimize city housing spending and rely primarily on free-market supply growth