- Slug: Audio-Affordable Housing Bill
- Run time: 1:04
- Downloadable audio here. (Note: Some web browsers may not support media download.)
By Thalia Lopez
Cronkite News
Script:
HOST INTRO:
Maricopa County reached its highest level of evictions last month according to The Maricopa County Justice Courts. More than 5-thousand evictions were recorded. But as Cronkite News’s Thalia Lopez reports a new bill introduced Wednesday could spell opportunities for affordable housing.
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TL: MORE THAN 100 THOUSAND PEOPLE MOVE TO ARIZONA ANNUALLY AND AS THE DEMAND FOR HOUSING CONTINUES TO RISE, THE HOUSING SUPPLY IS DWINDLING. NEW LEGISLATION CO-SPONSORED BY ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE STEVE KAISER, A REPUBLICAN AND REPRESENTATIVE CESAR CHAVEZ, A DEMOCRAT, AIMS TO FIX THIS. THE BILL WOULD DECLARE ALL AGRICULTURAL, RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL LAND OPEN FOR NEW HOUSING. AND IT WOULD ALLOW FOR UP TO EIGHT SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES PER ACRE AMONG OTHER PROVISIONS.
CHAVEZ SAYS MID TO LOW INCOME FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING WITH HOUSING CHALLENGES THE MOST.
CC: “WE’RE IN A CRISIS RIGHT NOW AND WE USE THIS WORD SO MUCH, BUT THE REALITY IS, WHEN YOU HAVE LAW ENFORCEMENT, NURSES, AND TEACHERS THAT CAN NO LONGER AFFORD TO LIVE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA, THAT’S A HUGE PROBLEM.”
TL: THE LEGISLATION WOULD INVEST 89-MILLION-DOLLARS INTO THE ARIZONA HOUSING TRUST FUND. THAT MONEY WOULD BE USED FOR SHELTER RELATED SERVICES. KAISER AND CHAVEZ SAY THE MONEY WOULD PROVIDE SERVICES AND SUPPORT TO THE STATE’S MOST VULNERABLE CITIZENS AS THEY TRANSITION BACK TO PERMANENT HOUSING.
THALIA LOPEZ, CRONKITE NEWS.