Announcing the Housing Security Challenge Results: Meet the Winners
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Seeking collaborative projects that innovate beyond living spaces.

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Calling Arizona Home

Arizona thrives when we work together to develop solutions that benefit the most vulnerable among us. Help us innovate beyond the construction of housing units to address housing security through supportive services. We welcome solutions related to racial inequality, economic and physical mobility, social work, public health, education, safe neighborhoods, and more. Won’t you join us?

How to make change happen.

PROCESS
7
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Step 1

Register

01 sep - 02 sep
Teams should be collaborative and reflect the communities they serve. Lead applicant organizations must register by Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time to be eligible.
Register Now
Step 2

Develop a Solution

01 sep - 02 sep
Housing security sits within an array of overlapping issues.  Innovative solutions reflecting cross-sector expertise are highly encouraged.
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Step 3

Apply

01 sep - 02 sep
Once you’ve registered for the Housing Security Challenge, complete and submit your application no later than Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.
View the Application
Step 4

Make Your Pitch

02 sep - 03 sep
All valid applicants will receive scores and comments from the Evaluation Panel. Up to five top-scorers will be invited to a live pitch event for the final Selection Committee.
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Facts about housing in Arizona, and why we need innovation.

70

Number of hours an individual would need to work in one week at minimum wage to afford a two-bedroom rental home in Arizona.

Source

45%

Percentage of Arizona renters who pay more than 30% of their income toward housing.

Source

57,779

Estimated number of low-income jobs lost in Maricopa County as a result of COVID-19.

Source

11.5x

Increased likelihood a household in a tribal area will lack adequate plumbing (as compared to the US average).

Source

60%

Percentage of households receiving food assistance that also reported facing a housing hardship in the previous year.

Source

29%

Percentage of Arizonans who feel their housing situation is less secure than it was before COVID-19.

Source

Q&A

Frequently asked questions about this challenge.

What is the Housing Security Challenge?

The Housing Security Challenge is a $250,000 grant competition designed to encourage new solutions that respond to the lack of affordable and stable housing in Arizona, not by constructing new housing units, but by addressing the broader context of housing insecurity throughout the state. It invites solutions rooted in supportive services related to racial inequality, economic and physical mobility, social work, public health, education, and more, that can help to create a new generation of innovation around affordable housing.

What do you mean by “housing insecurity?”

According to The Urban Institute, “Housing insecurity can take a number of forms: homelessness; housing cost burden; residential instability; evictions and other forced moves; living with family or friends to share housing costs (doubling-up); overcrowding; living in substandard, poor quality housing; or living in neighborhoods that are unsafe and lack access to transportation, jobs, quality schools, and other critical amenities.” It refers to both the lack of affordable housing units in the state and the many ways in which Arizona residents may not have living situations that are stable, healthy, or safe.

Who can apply?

We are looking for creative solutions from organizations or a coalition of organizations within the United States. Lead applicants may be:

  • An entity under section 501(c)(3) and 509(a)(1) or (2) of the Internal Revenue Code (“IRC”) that has received a tax determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”).
  • A private foundation under section 501(c)(3) of the IRC that has received a tax determination letter from the IRS.
  • A for-profit corporation organized under the laws of a state (or territory) in the United States.
  • A benefit corporation, flexible purpose entity, or similar “hybrid” entity organized under the laws of a state (or territory) in the United States.
  • A limited liability company or partnership organized under the laws of a state (or territory) in the United States.

Teams of organizations are encouraged to work together in developing their application. Individuals are not eligible for this challenge. Refer to the Rules for more information about eligibility.

Is this competition limited to organizations within the state of Arizona?

This competition is open to eligible organizations throughout the United States. While organizations are not required to be located in Arizona, they will need to demonstrate a deep understanding of local context in order to competitively meet the criteria laid out in the scoring rubric.

What is the problem that you’re trying to solve?

Arizona currently ranks third as the worst state in the nation for low-income families seeking housing security. Arizona also faces unique issues due to divides between its urban and rural populations, and the comparatively small investment in affordable housing from state government. The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown these pre-existing issues into sharper focus, while exposing new fault lines in the links between housing, health, and economic mobility.

What types of submissions are you looking for?

We are looking for innovative solutions that have the potential to serve as models to address housing insecurity across the state and benefit our racially and economically diverse communities. Specific criteria for proposals are laid out in the scoring rubric.

We recognize that housing security sits at the very center of an array of overlapping issues that are vital to community health, wellbeing, and resilience. While building supply is part of any equation trying to solve for affordable and stable housing, increasing housing security for Arizonans requires thinking beyond the availability of housing units. This competition will not provide funding for the construction or renovation of housing units; rather, we want to address the broader context of housing insecurity and find ideas that can seed the next generation of affordable housing innovation in our state.

How do we apply?

Review all of the information about this competition, including the rules and the application, to assess your eligibility and fit for this challenge. Then, be sure to register no later than Tuesday, December 1, 2020, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time. Registration is required and is a simple two-step process. First, create a username and password, then check your inbox to confirm your registration. Next, complete the online registration form. Once you are registered, develop and submit your application online no later than Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 5:00 p.m. Mountain Time.

What if I have a question that is not listed here?

Please refer to our full Frequently Asked Questions page. You may also email us at questions@housingsecuritychallenge.org if your question is not captured there.

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Join us in finding new ways to help the most vulnerable among us call Arizona home.

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