arizona
Gov. Hobbs Celebrates Tucson’s First-Time Homebuyer Program Triumph
Gov. Katie Hobbs visited Tucson on Friday to highlight the progress of her administration’s Arizona is Home program. This initiative, launched in April, aims to allocate $13 million to assist up to 500 first-time homebuyers statewide.
During her visit, Hobbs met with Yudiria Redondo, a new homeowner who benefited from the program. Redondo received $30,000 in down payment assistance, enabling her to achieve her dream of homeownership. “It’s like making your dreams true. I think everybody wants to be a homeowner,” Redondo expressed. She and her daughters, Emma Sofia Valenzuela, 19, and Yithzel Valenzuela, 20, received their keys on Thursday and hope to move in before Christmas.
Emma Sofia shared their journey, stating, “We’ve been moving a lot, from apartments, to trailers, to renting,” highlighting the significance of finally owning a home. The funds provided through Arizona is Home are designed to be interest-free, according to Araceli Jimenez, a HUD housing counselor with Administration of Resources & Choices, the nonprofit that assisted Redondo. Jimenez recalled the moment she informed Redondo about the available funds. “She couldn’t believe it. She said, ‘No, I’m not going to be able to buy a home.’ And so I said, ‘Come on, let’s try it,’” Jimenez recounted.
To qualify for the program, applicants must meet specific income and family size criteria, and they do not need to have lived in Arizona for long. In addition to the $30,000, Redondo secured another $38,000 through the WISH program. Notably, under Arizona is Home, if she resides in the house for 30 years, the entire $68,000 loan will be forgiven.
Thus far, Arizona is Home has assisted 362 families, but resources are limited. Hobbs expressed her aspirations to extend the program through additional funding. The initiative is financed by a $10 million grant from the Housing Trust Fund and a $3 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Debbie Chandler, Executive Director of Administration of Resources & Choices, affirmed the challenges of attaining homeownership. “Few people today have enough down payment to make a house affordable, so these programs that the governor was here honoring are critical,” she stated. Chandler urged the need for continued funding for the Arizona is Home program to support future homebuyers.
