With the unanimous passage of its city budget, Mayor Kate Gallego and the Phoenix City Council have signaled that, after 12 public hearings, they are listening to the people’s concerns about affordability and have built a fiscal plan focused on food assistance, childcare, housing opportunities, and combating extreme heat.
Among the budget provisions that achieve these ends are:
- Increasing the Phoenix Housing Trust Fund by $6.6 million, raising it to a $15 million total sum.
- Replacing American Rescue Plan funding with $18.4 million in city financial resources to combat homelessness.
- Five million dollars for childcare affordability.
- A little over three million dollars for people to fight financial emergencies.
- Provide assistance for people who have lost food assistance thanks to Trump and Congressional Republican’s SNAP cuts.
- Close to nine million dollars for the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation.
Appearing in a social media post with other public stakeholders, Mayor Gallego said:
“It puts affordability at the forefront. We’re investing in affordable housing and making sure people get the federal benefits for which they are eligible. We’re also lowering the property tax rate.
There’s still more work to do and we’ll keep working at the City of Phoenix, but I’m so thankful to my colleagues, Team Phoenix, and our community members who were part of this budget.”
In an office press release, she wrote:
“Today’s budget takes meaningful steps to help families afford the basics. It invests millions in affordable housing and to shelter the homeless, offers help for families who need food assistance. And it does it all while cutting the property tax rate.”
In the above video, Shannon Clancy, the CEO of St. Vincent dePaul commented:
“So many people in our community are struggling with life’s basic needs right now, making difficult choices between paying rent or putting food on the table for their families. The funding in the city’s proposed budget that helps prevent homelessness, stabilize housing, and reduce the barriers for residents to have access to benefits is vital. We value the city’s partnership with St. Vincent de Paul as we work to feed, clothe, house, and heal people who have nowhere else to turn for help.”
Kyrstyn Paulat, Director of Early Learning and Education at the Children’s Action Alliance offered:
“No child should go to bed hungry. Programs like SNAP are a lifeline for so many families who are struggling to make ends meet, and they help provide access to healthy meals for families in our communities.
However, in less than a year, we have seen that nearly 200,000 children have lost access to these food assistance benefits, a devastating reality for so many families who are struggling to put food on the table. When families lose access to these benefits by mistake, it has a real impact for parents and caregivers who are already facing rising costs and added financial pressures.”
Camelback Community Association Co-Chair Elizabeth Aguilar relayed about the budget that:
“A $5.0 million pot will be allocated for funding for SNAP and child care. Next year, an additional $3.15 million in one-time funds will provide a flexible emergency financial assistance to Phoenix residents. Due to the changes of the state’s administration of these programs and the new federal compliance requirements, our neighbors and family residents are in need, are struggling to have food on their table or not able to stay employed due to lack of assistance with child care. We need to bring assistance and security to everyone that’s experiencing that hardship. Let’s focus on humanity and continue to help our fellow neighbor.”
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