SAFFORD — Southeastern Arizona Governments Organization is asking for the public’s input on housing needs in the Gila Valley.
With grant funding from United Way of Graham and Greenlee Counties, SEAGO is conducting a market study on increasing the amount of housing in Graham County.
The goal of the study is to identify at least two areas for possible housing development, which can be used to attract developers.
To that end, the study seeks to define the area’s economic conditions, analyze trends and create an infrastructure database.
Based on Graham County median income of $67,326 per year, no more than $1,683 should be spent on housing each month, which includes rent/mortgage payments, utilities and other normal household expenses.
“The need is there,” said William Osborne, Community Development Programs manager for SEAGO during the Graham Economic Partnership Breakfast Series on Housing last November. “Even housing that already exists is affordable housing if it’s able to be maintained. And that’s one of the challenges that a lot of our communities face, is that there’s not enough money in the bank account.”
One of the solutions, Osborne said, may be owner-occupied rehab, which will be tried in the Duncan area in the spring.
The anonymous survey is open now and runs until April 6. Click here to take the survey.
