In April, Mesa and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) celebrate Fair Housing Month, with April 11 marking the 57th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which sought to eliminate discrimination in housing opportunities and affirmatively further housing choices for all Americans.
The Civil Rights Act of 1968 guarantees that housing in Mesa and throughout the United States should be made available to all citizens without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), familial status and disability and encourages fair housing opportunities for all citizens.
The City of Mesa is dedicated to supporting programs that educate the public about their right to fair housing opportunities, said Mayor Mark Freeman. We will continue in promoting fair housing and collaborating with other organizations to ensure that every resident in Mesa has access to housing.
The City of Mesas support includes awarding Community Development Block Grants (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Human Services funding to various non-profit organizations to administer housing-related activities. Some of these agencies include: Central Arizona Shelter Services (CASS), Child Crisis Arizona, Family Promise Greater Phoenix, Homeward Bound, Save the Family Foundation of Arizona, City of Mesas Housing Rehabilitation Program and the City of Mesas Rent and Utility Deposit Program.
The City of Mesa also provides assistance, information and materials regarding Fair Housing questions and complaints on our website
In addition, Mesa celebrates the 51st Anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program. National Community Development Week (CD Week) is April 21-25 and was created in 1986 to bring national attention to the importance of community development programs like theCDBG Program and HOME Investment Partnerships Program, and how they have made such an incredible impact in communities.
The CDBG program helps build stronger and more resilient communities. CDBG funds support various programs, through community partnerships, including housing rehabilitation, public facility and infrastructure improvements and a wide array of public service activities. For nearly 51 years, CDBG has been an important resource for the community to develop programs and activities to address infrastructure, affordable housing and community needs.
Over the last 5 years, over $26 million in CDBG funds have benefited Mesas community through housing rehabilitation assistance; capital improvements to community facilities, parks and homeless shelters; COVID mitigation and prevention and delivery of critical services to assist the most vulnerable populations.
The HOME program provides funds to states and local governments for permanent and transitional housing, acquisition, rehabilitation, new construction and tenant-based rental assistance. For over 31 years, the HOME program has provided vital funding to help improve access and increase the supply of affordable housing for low- and very low-income households. Since Fiscal Year 2021, approximately $7.8 million in HOME funds have been allocated for housing programs and new development in Mesa.