Chandler opens public housing waitlist for first time in 3 years
Download mp3 (729.07 KB)The city of Chandler is taking applications for its public housing waitlist.
The cost of housing across the Valley continues to soar. The real estate tracking website RentCafe reports apartment prices in Chandler have jumped 26% just since last year.
"We know that there is a demand for affordable housing in our community," said Amy Jacobson, Chandler housing and redevelopment manager. Jacobson said the city is encouraging all interested families to apply for its program.
Chandler operates 303 units of public housing, which it rents to low-income families at prices adjusted to about 30% of their income. But even getting onto the waitlist for those units is a competitive process.
The city will accept pre-applications for the program. From the pre-applications, the city will use a lottery system to select 2,000 applicants to be put onto the waitlist. Then, if one of the city's public housing units becomes available, it will be offered to an eligible family from that waitlist.
“We know we can’t meet the demand of all of the families, but at least we’re able to have a chance for families that do meet income eligibility criteria to be on our waitlist and to provide housing,” Jacobson said.
The income limit for a family of four is $63,200 per year or less.
Pre-applications will be accepted online at chandleraz.gov/applyforhousing, in person, or by mail through Oct. 21 at noon.
EDITOR'S NOTE: The story has been updated to reflect the application deadline extension.
