Community leaders said they broke ground on a 19-unit affordable housing development in Gila Bend that will use a community land trust model to keep the homes permanently affordable.

"Community leaders Newtown, Clayton Homes, and Maricopa County broke ground on what will be 19 affordable housing units in the rural town of Gila Bend," Speaker 2, a community representative, said. Speaker 3, a community leader, added, "Investing in rural communities is incredibly important because there's so little development investment happening in those communities. They kinda get forgotten and and left by the wayside."

Organizers described the project as part of a housing continuum intended to help families move from rental housing to homeownership. "There's not a lot of opportunities for for families to kinda move through that housing continuum, to go from rental to moving on to homeownership. And this, community will provide that homeownership opportunity," Speaker 3 said.

A spokesperson described the finance model: the development will operate through a community land trust, under which homeowners purchase the structures and lease the land so affordability can be preserved over time. "This new affordable housing development was made possible through a community land trust partnership, which means homeowners build equity by buying the home, and the land is leased to keep the homes permanently affordable," Speaker 2 said.

Project eligibility and unit details were presented at the event. "The pricing will be, eligible to people that make under 80% AMI and under a 120% AMI," Speaker 4 said. Organizers said the development will include three- and four-bedroom units and expected the homes to be ready for Gila Bend families in 2026.

Town representatives also thanked Maricopa County for supporting the project. "The town is just so appreciative of Maricopa County for recognizing our housing shortage," Speaker 3 said.

The announcement did not specify funding sources, detailed subsidy levels, exact unit-by-unit income targeting, or contract and permitting timelines. Those items were not provided in the remarks.