Arizona is facing a housing crisis that continues to impact Arizonans across all income levels. Vitalyst helped organizations and state, county, and local agencies create diverse housing options that meet community needs as well as decrease barriers to building the housing stock needed for everyone.

Housing on School-Owned Property

With support from the Halle Foundation and the Chase Foundation, Vitalyst continued to support initiatives focused on land use for schools, churches, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and government-owned properties. Our collaboration with seven school districts and seven developers yielded the How School Districts Can Create Attainable Housing Toolkit, designed to aid other districts in exploring how to use their land to provide housing. This toolkit and our promising practices and co-location examples were presented at the Arizona Housing Coalition’s Annual Housing Conference, among other housing conferences.

Housing on Church Properties

Through the work with schools, Vitalyst connected with local faith groups interested in developing workforce housing on their properties. We held a two-day training with the Corporation for Supportive Housing (CSH) and are now organizing 10 cohorts for federally qualified health centers, churches, and other schools.

Supporting Affordable Housing Initiatives

Vitalyst was a lead partner in the approval of the Workforce Development Fund by the Greater Phoenix Leadership’s Board of Directors, which the Raza Development Fund will manage. Our influence also extended to the City of Phoenix’s General Bond Election, where Vitalyst supported funding for co-location, affordable housing, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs). We continue engaging with the Maricopa Association of Governments for Housing Webinars and other task forces related to the housing continuum, staying engaged with ongoing discussions and developments in affordable housing.

Contributing to the City of Phoenix’s Text Amendments to the Planning Code and General Plan Update

Vitalyst’s Director of Healthy Communities, Gabriel Jaramillo, contributed to the City of Phoenix’s Planning Code in several key areas. These included the city-wide allowance of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), the approval of manufactured housing, and the reduction of parking minimums, all of which aimed to increase housing availability and affordability.

Vitalyst also lent its voice as part of the City of Phoenix General Plan, focused on integrating aspects of co-location, promoting transit-oriented development, and advancing equitable housing policies. These efforts were designed to create a more inclusive and accessible housing landscape for all members of our community.

Vitalyst continues to advocate for innovative and sustainable housing solutions, enhancing community partnerships, and driving meaningful change in housing policy and practice.