Earlier this month, I was both encouraged and excited to hear Mayor Jonathan Rothschild’s announcement of a four-year plan to increase homeownership in Tucson.
During his State of the City speech, the mayor highlighted problems facing local homebuyers — most notably, the barriers that face middle-income homebuyers. He pointed to a sobering statistic: 40 percent of all renters spend more than one-third of their income on housing. This is something that is detrimental to our communities, because local families work tirelessly, every day, just to keep a roof over their heads.
For moderate- to low-income families, this means they have to choose between health care, food, education and more just to be able to consider pursuing home ownership. What follows is an endless cycle of uncertainty where families become renters. They’re moving often, living in substandard conditions.
The mayor illustrated our shared belief — that too often, hardworking families fail to qualify for home loans at affordable rates. We cannot stand by while our neighbors struggle because they cannot access an affordable home that would provide them with financial security and a foundation for a better future.
Our data reveal that homeownership brings a stability associated with positive outcomes in health, education and financial upward mobility.
This is why we do what we do at Habitat for Humanity Tucson. A better foundation for those families is a brighter future for us all, and homeownership is beneficial to the entire community.
For 35 years, Habitat for Humanity Tucson has taken an innovative approach to solving the crisis of inadequate shelter by working alongside hardworking families and neighbors to build homes and communities. Our partner families learn how to budget and save money, complete “sweat equity” hours to physically build their homes, save for a down payment and are ultimately able to purchase their new, safe and decent home at 0 percent interest. Families learn that a stable home can lead to personal and financial development, stability and the opportunity to make forward-looking choices.
This is why Habitat for Humanity Tucson supports a plan to increase homeownership in Tucson by offering future owner-occupiers affordable terms.
I am pleased and encouraged that by starting this conversation, we can stabilize neighborhoods and build futures for our children. I’d like to thank Mayor Rothschild for bringing to light what we have seen as a relevant mission for 35 years in Southern Arizona — affordable homes for families, creating stable communities and thriving neighborhoods where Tucsonans are invested in their future.
We will continue building homes and hope alongside future homebuyers, volunteers and supporters. I am confident that in four years, we can increase homeownership in Tucson and surrounding communities. But we can’t do it alone. If we work together, we can build stability and self-reliance to construct a stronger Southern Arizona.
