A new Noble Predictive Insights’ poll sheds new light on how Arizona voters are thinking about housing affordability. This poll has quickly gained media attention and elected officials should be paying attention.
Affordable housing is a top three issue for 40% of Arizona voters. More than a quarter of voters say they have considered leaving the state due to the cost of housing. Over 40% said they would move for more affordable housing, even if it meant longer travel time.
The good news? Voters are ready for actual housing solutions: 58% said they would support a new apartment complex nearby to lower housing costs.
Can You Hear Us Now?
Opposition to new housing may dominate at city hall, but it does not represent the general public. This is a point we have made for years.
Prior polling has shown that reforms making it easier to build housing are broadly popular with Arizonans. In the most recent Tempe City Council election, NIMBY-aligned candidates and a movement to kill approval of the new General Plan came up short.
Despite this growing support for real reform, politicians have been slow to respond. Tempe has slow-walked even the easiest housing reforms, getting lapped by the state on Accessory Dwelling Units and Missing Middle homes. At the same time, Arizona cities have lobbied hard against statewide reforms meant to clean up the mess caused by inaction from cities.
This is no longer a hypothetical. In cities that have made it easy to build housing, rents are stabilizing, then falling. Cities like Minneapolis and Austin are reaping the benefits of pro-housing policies.
The Status “No” Isn’t Working
Meanwhile, Maricopa County has seen record eviction numbers. Rents have skyrocketed. Homeownership is increasingly out of reach. This is a policy choice, not a fact of nature.
Voters are ready for real action and politicians interested in entertaining status quo, anti-housing attitudes should prepare for this to be an increasing political liability.
This year, we will be documenting in depth how Tempe’s elected officials are handling the housing crisis. We will be publishing regular updates on how legislators and council members are voting, talking, or otherwise taking action regarding housing policy.
We know governing isn’t easy, so we will also be publishing resources for current elected officials who are interested in tackling the housing crisis in a meaningful way. We want to be a useful resource for crafting policies that get affordable and abundant housing built in Tempe and beyond. The reforms we have been advocating for since 2019 are being increasingly enacted by forward-looking communities across the country—and they are working.
And for locals who aren’t elected yet—but are frustrated with the pace of change—we want to talk with you about opportunities to make a positive change in our community. Get in touch by emailing us ([email protected]).
Leave a Reply