Maricopa County officials announced on March 10 the completion of Alta Vista Ranch, a new affordable housing development in South Phoenix built in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona and local leaders.
The project aims to address the need for stable, affordable housing for working families in the area. The county allocated $2.56 million from federal American Rescue Plan Act funds toward the $8.9 million project, with additional support coming from donations and sponsors.
Chair Kate Brophy McGee of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors said, “Alta Vista Ranch exemplifies our commitment to expanding homeownership for working families. Projects like this can build strong communities throughout the county.”
Located at Alta Vista Road and 13th Place, Alta Vista Ranch consists of 25 energy-efficient homes ranging from 1,556 to 1,778 square feet. Homeowners must have incomes at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income and participate in Habitat’s model that requires a no-interest mortgage and 400 hours of volunteer service known as “Sweat Equity.” Supervisor Steve Gallardo said, “The families lucky enough to call Alta Vista Ranch home can breathe a sigh of relief knowing they have long-term housing stability. These 25 new homes represent a fresh start, safety, opportunity, connection, and a brighter future for the entire community thanks to this partnership.”
In recent years, Maricopa County has invested $118 million in federal funds to support affordable housing initiatives across the region. According to the Arizona Department of Education, educational outcomes remain a challenge: In Maricopa County during the 2022-23 school year, 62.9% of students in grades three through eight did not pass mathematics on state assessments while 57.2% failed English; among high schoolers taking standardized tests that year, failure rates were similar—65% did not pass math and 57% did not pass English.
However, more recent data show some improvement: For the 2023-24 school year ACT exam, 33.9% of high schoolers passed mathematics, while 36% of third through eighth graders passed mathematics on state assessments.
The county expects that by supporting stable housing through projects like Alta Vista Ranch—and with continued investment—communities will be strengthened over time.
