Phoenix farmland is disappearing. What you should know about a plan to save what’s left
A new pilot program in Phoenix could help preserve the city’s disappearing farmland, a few acres at a time. In 2020, Phoenix lost 200 acres of agricultural land to urban sprawl and development, according to the city. Many food growers in the Valley are renters because they can’t afford to purchase the land they farm […]
Rent increases could boot families from their homes, but lawmakers don’t care
You’ve heard the stories, or maybe you’re living one of them. Like the single mother hit with $800 rent increase – a stunning 50% jump in what she pays to house her family in an older three-bedroom apartment in central Scottsdale. “That will take almost 100% of my income, and my (82-year-old) father is on […]
What happened to downtown Phoenix? Once affordable, rents are now soaring. Here’s why
SOURCE: https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2022/03/20/why-rents-soaring-once-affordable-downtown-phoenix/7062775001/ AUTHOR: Catherine Reagor
Scottsdale family faces increasing rent at apartment
7 PHOTOS10:01 a.m. MST Mar. 15, 2022 Kathleen Black and her family stand outside their Scottsdale apartment on Feb. 11, 2022. The family of six reside in a three-bedroom apartment. Monica D. Spencer/The RepublicKathleen Black and her family stand outside their Scottsdale apartment on Feb. 11, 2022. The family of six reside in a three-bedroom […]
Pandemic is forcing us to face the realities of homelessness. Let’s start with these myths
Those of us of a certain age can actually recall that homelessness was not a widespread problem back in the 1970s and the decades prior. Back then, it was much smaller and manageable, mostly confined to skid row areas in urban centers. Kids like me grew up having never seen a homeless person. It wasn’t […]
Arizona constables behaving badly: Records show dangerous driving, threatening behavior
Arizona constables have gotten in trouble for excessive speeding, damaging government vehicles, impersonating police officers and public urination, an Arizona Republic investigation found. Constables are elected officials charged with enforcing county court orders. They remove people from their homes during evictions, serve orders of protection and deliver subpoenas. A Republic review found that complaints against […]
Arizona board with close ties to landlord group oversees constables who serve eviction writs
When renters are evicted, constables deliver the court orders — sought by landlords — that demand the tenants move out. But the board that trains and disciplines Arizona’s elected constables has close ties to the most powerful landlord group in the state. The relationship drew new scrutiny during the COVID-19 pandemic, when constables played an […]
Arizona could lose $60 million in federal rental aid after missing spending deadline
Arizona is in danger of losing a chunk of the $315 million it received in federal rental aid for rural areas. The state’s program has spent just 10% of its federal funding to help renters hurt by the pandemic stay in their homes, and a federal rule required that triple that rate had to be […]
Metro Phoenix evictions nearly double in September, despite more rental aid handed out
The number of renters evicted in Maricopa County almost doubled from August to September, the first month since the national moratorium ended. Evictions in metro Phoenix climbed as renter aid went out to struggling tenants and landlords much more quickly than a few months ago. The number of renters being locked out is expected to […]
Rental aid can pay for landlords’ legal costs. Now renters in eviction can get legal aid.
Maricopa County is rolling out a $2.6 million program to offer free legal help to renters facing eviction who couldn’t pay their landlords during the pandemic. The money for renter legal aid comes as many Arizona landlords have received attorney’s fees and court costs through rental assistance requests this year from the state’s federal emergency […]
