Advancing Affordable Housing

Newport at Amphi Apartments, 44-unit affordable, multi-family housing complex at Prince and Stone. Source: Enzo Photography

Housing affordability has been identified as a high-priority area by the Tucson Mayor and Council. Over the past few years, the City of Tucson has expanded or launched several affordable housing initiatives to support the preservation and construction of housing units.

Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson

In recent years Tucson has experienced rapid housing costs, maintains comparatively high rates of poverty, and the global COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated existing socio-economic disparities. This has led to rising eviction rates, landlords refusing to accept Housing Choice Vouchers and a lack of resources community-wide to meet the demand of affordable housing. Understanding these concerns, the Tucson Mayor and Council directed the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop a comprehensive affordable housing plan. The Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST) lays out 10 Policy Initiatives and several specific actions that HCD will take to support the preservation and construction of new housing in Tucson to help meet the demand.

Down Payment Assistance Program

Assistance is available for first time homebuyers purchasing throughout the City of Tucson and Pima County, excluding Tribal lands. Learn more about the program on the Down Payment Assistance Program page.

Housing Market Study

Read the 2024 Housing Needs Assessment

The City of Tucson, Pima County, and University of Arizona’s Economic and Business Research Center through the MAP Dashboard partnered on a regional housing market study to help decision makers better understand the existing housing stock and development trends and to identify gaps and potential policies to support a variety of housing options that meet the needs of the full range of household types in our community. The data from the Housing Market Study was used to inform the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson (HAST).

The study included three phases:

  1. Neighborhood Vulnerability Index to help target resources, policies and programs
  2. Housing Market Assessment that contains detailed housing data
  3. Gap Analysis to help estimate existing and future demand

Affordable Housing Impact Fee Study Program

The City of Tucson may provide an impact fee subsidy for eligible affordable housing providers whose residential rental or homeownership development is affordable to households that earn one-hundred (100) percent of the area median income or less and that agree to maintain that affordability for no less than twenty (20 years). The subsidy is subject to Mayor and Council approval and available funding.

Related Documents

Affordable Housing Impact Fee Policy Summary Sheet(PDF, 176KB)

Ordinance 11919 - Impact Fee Subsidy Program(PDF, 1MB)

2026 Maximum Affordable Pricing Schedule(PDF, 480KB)

Impact Fee Subsidy Request Form

Commission on Equitable Housing and Development (CEHD)

The Tucson Mayor and Council established the Commission on Equitable Housing and Development (CEHD) to allow various stakeholders to provide regular input on issues surrounding housing and development.

The CEHD reviews, investigates, and recommends actions to the Mayor and City Council, based on research, data, and inclusive input, to increase housing affordability. Meetings are open to the public and every meeting has a call to the public where interested residents can address the commission and provide input on housing-related issues.

Affordable and Mixed-Income Housing on City-Owned Properties

“Develop Affordable and Mixed-Income Housing on City-Owned Properties” is Policy Initiative 7 of the Housing Affordability Strategy for Tucson. HCD focuses on housing for low-income households. However, there are also several advantages to mixed-income housing. Market rate units help offset the cost of the affordable housing units and increase social diversity. El Pueblo Housing Development, the City’s nonprofit housing development arm, has multiple affordable and mixed-income projects underway on City-owned sites.

 Visit El Pueblo Housing Development's website for more information about current and planned developments.   

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