Arizona advocates have joined with local governments and school districts to address a housing shortage in Phoenix.

Arizona's capital city was once among the most affordable markets in the country but is now among the most expensive. The combination of a sharp population increase and lagging home construction has driven the average home price in Phoenix up nearly 54% compared to just seven years ago, according to the Common Sense Institute of Arizona.

Gabriel Jaramillo, director of healthy communities for the Vitalyst Foundation, said it has created a dire housing shortage and future projections do not look promising.

"There's various estimates on shortages of housing from the Department of Housing estimating 270,000 units short across the state," Jaramillo reported. "The city of Phoenix, estimating another 50,000 to 60,000 units."

One example of how Phoenix is addressing the issue is its partnership with a local school district to convert an old gymnasium into 240 affordable housing units. Other planned local projects include what is known as "co-location," when affordable housing units are built around government or municipal buildings.

Jaramillo pointed out a lack of affordable housing can have a direct effect on human health, especially people who have trouble affording a safe place to live.

"Whether it be rising homelessness or families that were having to double up, triple up, things like that just to survive, that has a direct impact to an individual's health," Jaramillo emphasized. "Health is so much more than just a doctor's visit."

Jaramillo added the Vitalyst Foundation looks at housing and health on a "systems level," meaning people not only have a safe place to live but also have access to the services they need to live healthy lives.

Source: Public News Service