Maricopa County Board of Supervisors this week Voted to donate $10 million directly Contributed pandemic relief funds to two new affordable housing projects in Phoenix.

$5 million will be paid to turn a hotel in north Phoenix into affordable rental housing for adults 55 and older who are emerging from homelessness. The remaining $5 million will be used to build new apartments near downtown for low-income families.

Jacqueline Edwards, director of the Maricopa County Department of Human Services, said these two groups are particularly vulnerable to housing instability.

“If you're retired or just starting your career, like many young families, paying $2,000 a month in rent is just not possible,” Edwards says.

of Maricopa Association of Governments Report Rent prices in the Phoenix metropolitan area have increased nearly 40% since 2019.The homeless population in this area is grew by about 45% within the same time frame.

The senior-friendly hotel near Interstate 17 and Northern Avenue will feature 125 studio units, including accessible or adaptable units for people with disabilities.

The new family-friendly 109-unit complex will be located near 20th Avenue and Roosevelt Avenue. Residents will have access to support services such as GED and ESL classes, job fairs, Head Start, after-school programs for children, and referrals to homeownership and wellness programs.

Since 2020, the county invested $500 million Supported by county and federal funds to address housing and homelessness issues.