Avondale council approves $355,000 from contingency to finish family bridge housing project

Avondale City Council on Aug. (date not specified) approved two budget transfers from contingency totaling $355,000 to move forward with construction and initial operations of a Family Bridge Housing project near the Avondale Resource Center.

The council voted to transfer $280,000 for construction and $75,000 for project operations, authorizing staff to execute the transfers and proceed with awarding a contract to the lowest responsible bidder. The motion, moved by Councilmember White and seconded by Councilmember Weiss, passed 6-1.

"Family bridge housing at its core is temporary housing designated to fill the gap," said Chris (last name not specified), Director of Neighborhood Family Services, introducing the program and describing its purpose as a short-term step between homelessness and permanent housing for families that already hold a housing voucher. He said the city anticipates completing the project in April 2026.

The project consists of three duplexes (six units) located east of Eliseo C. Felix Way, adjacent to the Resource Center, police substation and canine facility. Each unit has two bedrooms, a living room, a kitchen, a covered entry and a dedicated laundry room and is roughly 858–885 square feet. The city will prioritize Avondale residents with at least one minor child who are enrolled in a housing voucher program and will pair placements with intensive case management and navigation services.

Maricopa County previously contributed to the project via American Rescue Plan Act funding, initially providing $1.7 million and later increasing its contribution to $1.9 million, Chris said. With the transfers approved Tuesday, the city’s total contribution will exceed $1,000,000 and the overall project budget is $2,989,061, according to the presentation.

City staff estimated annual operating costs of about $150,000 from general funds and said case management/navigation will be supported with $60,000 per year in Home ARPA funds already allocated. Chris told council the $75,000 operations transfer is a prorated amount to contract with a nonprofit property manager/operator beginning in fiscal year 2026. He told council the city must obligate ARPA funds by December 2026.

Councilmembers praised the program’s focus on wraparound services. "I love everything about this. Everything about this," Councilmember Conde said, citing the ties to nearby services and the project’s potential to serve more than six families over time. Councilmembers asked about deposits and utilities, pet policy, unit furnishings, occupancy and whether the operator would provide case management; staff replied deposits and utility assistance can be provided through the Resource Center funding streams, pets will not be allowed on-site, units will be furnished, and the city intends to contract with a nonprofit operator that also provides case management.

The council’s authorization allows procurement to proceed to award a construction contract to the lowest responsible bidder; staff said bids received in June 2025 had come in above the prior budget, which prompted the contingency request. The city estimates the units will house families for up to 12 months, with some households exiting to permanent housing in as few as six months.

Next steps: staff will complete procurement to award the construction contract, finalize an operator agreement for maintenance and case management, and move toward an anticipated project completion in April 2026.