Home Matters Arizona Fund Grantees Announced, Summer Applications Open

Home Matters® to Arizona Announces $750,000 in Affordable Housing Grants for Projects in Phoenix, Lakeside and San Luis Arizona Health Care Leaders Addressing Social Determinants of Health

PHOENIX (June 1, 2021) – Home Matters to Arizona, which is planning a $100 million fund over two years to finance affordable housing projects in Arizona, announces a second round of grant recipients that will receive a total of $750,000. The fund also announced the third round of grants applications open June 15th.

“Home Matters to Arizona is working to address health outcomes by increasing the availability of affordable homes for families who are severely cost burdened,” said Lorry Bottrill, Chief Executive Officer, Mercy Care and Home Matters Arizona Governance Fund chair. “These deserving award recipients will create intentionally connected communities and foster healthier individuals, families and economies.”

Home Matters Arizona Fund is prioritizing and funding promising projects throughout the state that are positioned to demonstrate measurable and positive outcomes focused on specific populations, geographic areas and the community at-large. The fund addresses Arizona’s rising affordability crisis while paying much-needed attention to the role of housing justice for underrepresented families and communities.

Home Matters Arizona Fund will invest in projects that serve individuals and families with low to moderate income, veterans, seniors, people who are homeless, people with disabilities, individuals involved with the justice system and those eligible for Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) support.

The fund’s second round of award recipients: Catholic Charities Community Services for the 297-unit Mesquite Terrace in Maricopa County; Solterra Senior Living for the 160-unit Bridgewater White Mountains In Navajo County; and Comite De Bien Estar for the 100-unit CBD Valley View Apartments in Yuma County.

Catholic Charities Community Services (Mesquite Terrace)

• 5033, 5039, 5045, 5107 N. 19th Ave. in Phoenix
• Total Development Cost: $62.2 million
• Grant Amount: $250,000
• Units: 297
• Construction is expected to begin summer 2021

Mesquite Terrace will provide affordable, transit-orientated housing at 19th Avenue and Camelback in Phoenix along with employment and entrepreneurial possibilities. In addition to developing one-, two- and three-bedroom units, the residents will be provided with an array of on-site amenities including courtyards that surround a clubhouse featuring a food pantry, kitchenette, large room for gatherings and classrooms. Other amenities include teen room, sport court, tot play structure, picnic tables, BBQ, community garden, and bicycle storage. The Metro Rail and major bus routes are within walking distance. Community amenities within one mile include employment centers, schools (after school), grocery, library, urgent care, banks, senior center, churches, YMCA, and recreational facilities. 

Solterra Senior Living (Bridgewater White Mountains)

• 5408 Arizona Highway 260, Lakeside, Ariz.
• Total Development Cost: $34.5 million
• Grant Amount: $250,000
• Units: 160
• Construction is expected to begin summer 2021

The site is currently a three-story Solterra Senior Housing facility and will be rehabilitated into the Bridgewater White Mountains with 20 units of independent living (market rate), 116 assisted living units (affordable rate) and 24 memory care units (affordable rate). Unit sizes are 390 sq. ft. for a studio, 510 and 646 sq. ft. for 1-bedrooms and 780 and 880 sq. ft. for 2-bedrooms. Amenities include several activity areas, a fitness and wellness area, dining room, bistro café, and outdoor pond plus walking seating areas. The memory care section has its own dining area and activity center plus a secured outdoor area. Services include 24-hour staff daily, three meals daily, unit housekeeping, scheduled transportation, activities and personal care.

Comite De Bien Estar (CDB Valley View Apartments)

• 4th Avenue north of Union, San Luis, Ariz.
• Total Development Cost: $23.5 million
• Grant Amount: $250,000
• Units: 100
• Construction expected to begin in summer 2021

CDB Valley View Apartments is a 100-unit new construction multi-family housing complex, consisting of 13 residential two-and one-story buildings with a one-story community/office building. The project has 100 units with (30) two-bedroom units at 1068 square feet per unit; (62) three-bedroom units at 1254 square feet per unit; and (8) four-bedroom units at 1474 square feet per unit.

The common area will include a 2,963-square-foot community room with a food pantry and a 22,000-square-foot playground. The playground is designed with age-appropriate areas that will include a tote lot; a climbing wall and other playground equipment. CDB Valley View Apartments also will feature a half-court basketball area, walking paths and sitting areas, and a bar-b-que. 

Home Matters to Arizona is born from a collaboration of the Arizona Association of Health Plans, whose member companies contract with the State’s Medicaid program to serve the health care needs of Arizona’s most vulnerable citizens. Founding Home Matters Arizona Fund include Arizona Complete Health, Banner – University Health Plan, Care1st Health Plan Arizona, Health Choice Arizona, Magellan Complete Care of Arizona, Mercy Care, The NARBHA Institute and UnitedHealthcare. 

The fund seeks projects that align with the values established by the Home Matters national movement, which is redefining what home and the American Dream mean.

About Home Matters to Arizona

Home Matters to Arizona is the first statewide initiative of Home Matters, a national movement uniting America around home. The first phase of Home Matters to Arizona involves creating the new $100 million Home Matters Arizona Fund, leveraging government, philanthropy and national private investment. Initial grants are from health plans, the private half of the public-private partnership model that comprises the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS).  Future phases will focus on collaboratively building awareness and influencing standard practices for developing more affordable homes and better communities across Arizona. Learn more at HomeMattersArizona.com.

Background

The Home Matters Arizona Fund was developed by Arizona's Managed Care Organizations in 2020 to increase the supply of affordable housing that includes elements that connect communities and support healthier individuals, families and economies across the State of Arizona, and shift the housing market toward sustainable affordable housing solutions, including housing for Medicaid-eligible individuals.

The Fund is the first statewide initiative of the national Home Matters movement focused on a new generation of affordable housing, connected communities, and healthier individuals, families, communities and economies. The Fund will invest in projects that intentionally reflect the Home Matters vision and principals that integrate comprehensive community development efforts.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) Phoenix is a partner in the Home Matters Arizona Fund providing underwriting and other asset management services to the fund. LISC Phoenix is collecting and processing this application. All communication about your application will come from a LISC Phoenix program officer. 

Available Funding

This application can be used to request a grant, loan or both depending on the project need. Awards will be offered based on available funding. 

Grants: Most grant awards will be for between $100,000 and $500,000.   

Loans: A loan pool of up to $35 million is available at an interest rate of 3-4% for a term of up to 7 years. 

Eligible Projects

The Home Matters Arizona Fund is intended for affordable housing projects that serve families or individuals earning up to 80% AMI. Mixed income properties will be considered based on the income distribution of units.

Projects should demonstrate a deliberate connection to community assets, cross-sector partnerships, equitable outcomes based on housing justice, all as demonstrated by genuine community engagement.  For example:

• Healthy food retailers that accept food assistance programs like WIC and SNAP
• Employment centers that match resident skills
• Active transportation facilities and public transit
• Schools, childcare or senior centers (where applicable)
• Medical facilities, such as federally qualified health centers
• Public libraries
• Parks or community centers
• LEED and Fitwel standards
• Places of worship

This application is intended for "shovel ready" projects. All other financing must be committed and demonstrated in this application. The project site must be owned or under purchase agreement. If you have a project in an earlier stage that you would like us to know about, complete the Home Matters Arizona Fund Interest Form and a LISC staff member will follow-up with you.

Projects that are complete or where construction has already started are not eligible for funding.