A recent housing conference in Phoenix featured the release of the most comprehensive study ever conducted on affordable housing needs in Arizona. The statewide Affordable Housing Report, which was produced with HUD technical assistance funds, found that that 196,000 household statewide - or 10.4 percent - were paying more for housing than they could afford.

The study, which involved an in-depth analysis of each Arizona city, county and Indian Reservation and their respective housing affordability gaps, also found that the most serious gap occurs at 40 percent and below of median income. Localities that target housing assistance resources to those who spend up to 80 percent of the median income are now re-thinking their policies. The study is part of the Phoenix HUD office's initiative to get localities to address affordable housing from a regional point of view. Details of the study can be found at www.arizonaeconomy.com

Arizona Governor Jane Hull is shown receiving a recognition award from Sheila Harris, director, Arizona Dept. of Housing. More than 200 individuals from housing related organizations attended the one-day conference.

The report was released as part of an October 15 affordable housing conference co-sponsored by the Phoenix HUD Field Office and the Arizona Department of Housing in Phoenix. The conference featured speeches by Governor Jane Hull; Conrad Egan, former executive director, Millennium Housing Commission; Sheila Harris, director, Arizona Department of Housing; and Rebecca Flanagan, Phoenix Field Office director.

The conference also included panel discussions by the Regional Coalition for Affordable Housing (ARCH) from Seattle and local speakers from Phoenix, Tucson and Tempe. Some 220 housing developers, elected officials, city, state and county staff, business representatives, housing authorities and non-profit housing organizations attended the conference.