SCOTTSDALE, AZ — Scottsdale is taking another shot at putting federal housing funds to work, this time through a new rental assistance program aimed at helping families with school-age children stay housed, city officials told an advisory commission earlier this month.
The Human Services Advisory Commission heard an update on Rental Initiatives Supporting Education, known as R.I.S.E., during a regular meeting at City Hall.
The program would use federal COVID-era funds to provide rent subsidies and support services to families connected to Scottsdale Unified School District who are either homeless or at risk of losing their housing.
The city plans to put $1.4 million toward the program, with $725,171 designated for rental subsidies expected to help about 25 families over two years.
Participants must earn below 50 percent of the area median income and would pay between 30 and 40 percent of their adjusted income toward rent, with the program covering the rest. Interim Human Services Director Mary Witkofski said the long-term goal is self-sufficiency.
The funding has a history in the community. Scottsdale received the federal HOME-ARP dollars years ago as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, originally directing them toward an affordable housing project at the Paiute Neighborhood Center, according to reports.
That project did not move forward after the city council voted in February 2024 to halt construction, citing a lack of county funding. Because the federal funds do not expire until 2030, the city has been working to redirect them.
The R.I.S.E. program is specifically designed to serve families identified under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, a federal law guaranteeing educational rights and services to children experiencing homelessness.
Scottsdale Unified has identified 83 such families, according to Sue Oh, Human Services Manager.
There is at least one hurdle still to clear. As of the commission meeting, the city had not yet found a nonprofit willing to manage the program. A request for proposals was extended to April 30.
Once a nonprofit partner is selected, that organization will handle eligibility screening and application intake. Families will not apply directly through the city.
The program still requires City Council authorization before moving forward. If approved, participating families could receive up to two years of rental assistance, along with landlord matching and housing search help.
The city has set an ambitious benchmark for the program, aiming for 90 percent of participants to exit into stable housing.
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