Stories
Discussions at Sacred Heart Parish, which is surrounded by neighborhoods containing some of the least expensive and most substandard housing in Tucson, have revealed the daily challenges of living in trailer parks. In recent years, trailer park owners have forced residents to buy their dilapidated “mobile homes” or face eviction. Residents must continue to pay rent on the land while now also facing high repair costs for deteriorating heating, cooling, and other basic systems.

Research
39,000 household units in greater metropolitan Tucson are considered substandard, overcrowded and cost-burdened.

Tucson has the 19th highest foreclosure rate in the nation, and it is estimated that 24% of all mortgages originated in Arizona in 2006 will enter into foreclosure.

An estimated 50,000 household units in Tucson are at or nearly at 50 years of age and are also in need of major system rehab, including electrical, plumbing, heating & cooling, roof, and structural.  Many of these units have aging-in-place elderly residents for whom these older units present significant upkeep and accessibility challenges.

A growing body of nationwide research indicates a statistically valid correlation between safe, decent, affordable housing (including both rental & homeownership units) and “spill-over” socioeconomic benefits upon surrounding neighbors, including: 

• Improved property conditions & economic values, as measured by increased house prices
• Increased public safety and reduced rates of crime
• Improved school performance, as measured by standardized achievement tests
• Increased attention to local environmental concerns.

A 2006 local population survey of Habitat for Humanity households reveals that since moving into their safe, decent, affordable home, a majority of residents have experienced income increases, used less (or no) government assistance, decreased their credit card debt, and reported strong improvement in their children’s grades in school. Ninety percent report an increase in their sense of optimism about their future.

Possible Action Steps

• Research the costs and benefits of the county’s adoption of an inclusionary zoning policy, which requires the construction of affordable housing as part of new development projects.
• Research the costs and benefits of a real estate transfer tax, as a funding stream for the city’s and/or county’s affordable housing trust fund.
• Research the possibility of running a city or county bond measure for affordable housing
• Research the legal rights of trailer park residents and the alternative housing options available.
• Research housing options for the elderly, including group homes. Back to top

 

Source: Michael McDonald, Habitat for Humanity Tucson