In Maricopa County, for every person who leaves homelessness, two more enter. While conversations, planning and funding are key, action is required to address and eventually solve the growing crisis.
Formed nearly three decades ago as a cooperative effort between organizations looking to end homelessness, the Arizona Housing Coalition has evolved into the state’s largest housing stability advocacy organization.
Recently, the Arizona Housing Coalition teamed up with one of its long-term partners, Dominium, and corporate sponsors to launch initiatives to develop more affordable housing in Arizona.
“I believe that we need enough homes for the people that live here and the people that are going to move here,” said Sarah Shambrook, the Government Relations manager for Dominium.
Dominium manages more than 38,000 apartments in 19 states from its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, focusing on making housing more affordable. Shambrook explained that getting more people housed requires an engaged public and attentive municipal leadership.
Sarah Shambrook talks about Speak Up for Homes:
“To build affordable housing, you need the local, state, and federal government to align, and elected officials to listen to their constituents,” said Shambrook. “Whenever we’re trying to build more affordable housing or get more funding for homelessness services or build an emergency shelter, it’s extremely important for local constituents to reach out to their local representatives.”
Thus, the name of the Dominium-Arizona Housing Coalition effort is ‘Speak Up for Homes.’
“We need everyday citizens to speak up and talk about why building more affordable housing is so important,” Shambrook said. “When there’s something in your area, whether it be new affordable housing, whether it be a renovation of affordable housing, or new homelessness resources and emergency services shelters, reach out to your elected officials and tell them, ‘I’m one of your constituents, and I think we need to move this forward.’”
For more information about the Speak Up for Homes program, visit the site.
