Maricopa County allocates $6 million for 96-unit La Esperanza Terrace on surplus school land

Maricopa County approved $6 million to help build La Esperanza Terrace, a 96-unit affordable housing complex on surplus property owned by the Isaac Elementary School District in West Phoenix.

The project, financed under a school district surplus land initiative and with county support using American Rescue Plan dollars, includes 32 one-bedroom, 32 two-bedroom and 32 three-bedroom units and will offer on-site employment services, officials said. Residents must earn at or below 60% of area median income to qualify and may apply in person at the complex leasing office.

Why it matters: County officials and local housing advocates say the development is a model that could be replicated across Maricopa County to expand affordable housing supply amid rising rents and population growth.

Resident Amanda Torres, who identified herself as an Arizona native and one of the first residents at La Esperanza Terrace, described the local housing pressure: "Over the last 5 years, housing has become unaffordable for me," she said. "It's really insane. I talked to my neighbors over at the other complex, and they're like, it's so stressful. Like, I feel like I'm working paycheck to paycheck. And I'm like, I know. I totally understand that." Torres also said she is excited to be among the first residents and called the units "really big" and "really nice."

Jackson Fonder, chief executive officer of the local nonprofit Umom, said the organization has developed 10 housing complexes over the past 13 years to increase access to affordable housing. "This is one of 10 housing complexes the local nonprofit has developed over the past 13 years in an attempt to get more people into housing they can afford," Fonder said.

A county staff member announced that the Board of Supervisors approved $6,000,000 to support construction of the facility. Maricopa County has used American Rescue Plan dollars to fund 1,035 affordable housing units so far, the county said during the discussion.

District 5 Supervisor Steve Gallardo called the initiative a blueprint for future projects: "These are projects that can be duplicated all over Maricopa County. Let it be the East Valley, the North Valley. This is something it has created the blueprint to say this is how we finance these types of housing communities," Gallardo said.

Project details released during the meeting say La Esperanza Terrace will provide employment services on-site. Eligibility is set at 60% of area median income or below. The development is described as Arizona's first affordable housing community financed through the school district surplus land initiative.

County officials and partners did not provide a construction timeline, contractor names, or a final occupancy date during the discussion.