In a big victory for Arizonans seeking to exercise their fair housing rights, the Arizona Supreme Court issued a significant ruling in June allowing employees of agencies that receive Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) funds to represent victims of housing discrimination during the state’s administrative complaint process.

This landmark decision empowers organizations that receive FHIP funding, like the Southwest Fair Housing Council (SWFHC), to assist more individuals in navigating fair housing claims, increasing access to justice for those facing discrimination. A big thank you to the Arizona Attorney General for petitioning the Court to change the rule and to the advocates who submitted comments in support!

On a more somber note, Arizona, like much of the nation, continues to be in the grip of a housing crisis. Over the past decade, home prices and rents have risen dramatically as supply remains constricted. Evictions have spiked, leading to a dramatic rise in homelessness. Due in large part to the legacy of housing discrimination and segregation, people of color, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups continue to bear the brunt of the crisis. That is why SWFHC joined nearly 300 civil rights, housing, faith, environmental, and industry organizations to urge the Biden Administration to release the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule to help address critical housing issues: https://nationalfairhousing.org/nearly-300-civil-rights-housing-faith-environmental-and-industry-organizations-and-a-local-elected-official-urge-biden-administration-to-immediately-release-fair-housing-rule/

Finally, SWFHC is a partner organization with the newly formed Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability. ARCHES produces research and reports that center housing equity, affordability, and sustainability to provide critical insights to policymakers and stakeholders to create more equitable and affordable housing in Arizona. See SWFHC board president, Deirdre Pfeiffer, and Morrison Institute co-director, Alison Cook-Davis talking about ARCHES: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ei3SgKAjRVY

Supplemental

Here's a brief list of housing-related stories in the news:

https://www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/2024-08-15/4-new-arizona-housing-bills-were-just-signed-into-law-leaders-hope-theyll-help-rising-costs https://azpbs.org/horizon/2024/08/metro-phoenix-evictions-housing-crisis-extreme-heat/ https://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/publication/2024-state-housing-arizona-report https://morrisoninstitute.asu.edu/arches