Community leaders from Newtown, Clayton Homes and Maricopa County broke ground on a 19-unit affordable housing development in the rural town of Gila Bend, officials said.

Speakers described the project as a community land trust partnership in which homeowners buy the house while the land is leased to keep the homes permanently affordable. "This new affordable housing development was made possible through a community land trust partnership, which means homeowners build equity by buying the home, and the land is leased to keep the homes permanently affordable," one speaker said.

Organizers said the development will include three- and four-bedroom homes and that pricing will be targeted to households tied to area median income thresholds. "The pricing will be, eligible to people that make under 80% AMI and under a 120% AMI," a speaker said; the transcript language on income thresholds was ambiguous and is reported here as stated.

A speaker emphasized the importance of investing in rural communities, saying they are often overlooked and lack opportunities for residents to move from renting to homeownership. The development was presented as a way to provide homeownership opportunities for Gila Bend families.

Speakers said the homes are expected to be ready in 2026. At the event, a speaker expressed gratitude on behalf of the town for Maricopa County's recognition of the local housing shortage.

Details on project financing, total development budget, specific household eligibility rules, and exact construction schedule were not specified during the remarks.