Why Does It Have to Be So Hard to Live? Evictions and Home Affordability Crisis Continues for Arizonans
Kayla Meins finds herself faced with uncertainty as she unloads cardboard boxes from her car to her front door. The 17-year-old, along with her mother, 8-year-old brother, and boyfriend, will be evicted on Friday. With her mother on disability, Meins is tasked with finding work to support her family and keep them off the streets.
My situation is normal to me, Meins explained, I’ll do anything I can to help my mom pay the rent, anything I can do to keep my brother off the streets.
Meins disclosed that her family’s eviction came after they missed one rent payment, exacerbating the grief they already carry from the loss of her father.
My dad died. From the memorial, his ashes and all the costs, it definitely pushed us back.
The loss of a loved one, like in Meins’ situation, can prove to be a tipping point towards homelessness, a concern highlighted by Lisa Glow, CEO and president of Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS).
It’s very easy to evict people here in Maricopa County, so evictions are rising, Glow revealed. We saw even during the pandemic, we had one of the higher eviction rates, and now they’re soaring again.
A new report by real estate data company Attom reveals that Arizona’s home affordability crisis is worsening in most of the state’s counties, including Maricopa.
The lack of affordable housing directly impacts how many people are becoming homeless, Glow explained. People who are first-time homeless because their rent goes up. There are not enough affordable places to rent.
As COVID funding dwindles, CASS relies on support from the city, state, and private donors to sustain its services.
Howard Epstein, founder of the Arizona Housing Fund, recognizes the need for assistance and is working to help nonprofits like CASS. So far, the Arizona Housing Fund has provided eight equity grants.
Our whole intention is to bring more units online to provide more housing, Epstein expressed.
Addressing the crisis at hand, Glow emphasized the need for collective action, stating, If we’re going to turn this crisis around, and I do believe it’s a humanitarian crisis, it’s going to take all of us.
The escalating issue of evictions and the dire state of home affordability in Arizona demand immediate attention and action. With rising eviction rates and a lack of affordable housing, individuals and families like Kayla Meins and her loved ones face the threat of homelessness. It is imperative for organizations, communities, and government entities to collaborate and find sustainable solutions to combat this crisis, ensuring that every Arizonan has a safe and affordable place to call home.
