Tempe resident urges more funding, density bonuses to address low-income housing shortage

David Sokolowski, a Tempe resident who spoke during the meeting's call to the audience, urged the City Council to increase funding and change development policy to address what he described as a growing low-income housing shortage in Tempe. "I want you to increase funding for low income housing because the city has one of the worst housing shortages in the state," Sokolowski said, citing city numbers and future projections.

Sokolowski said a city housing report and a July email show a falling share of low-income units and warned the deficit could grow unless the city doubles construction rates and adopts a density bonus program. "We should create a very generous density bonus program," he said, and asked council members to explain how they will respond to the projections.

Mayor and the city attorney later addressed an assertion in the public comment that federal Section 8 benefits were being cut, saying the council does not support cutting those benefits. The presiding official told Sokolowski and viewers, "I am of course not in favor in any way shape or form of anyone cutting Section 8 benefits," and said council values protecting vulnerable residents.

The council did not take formal action on the resident's requests during the session. The housing topic was discussed again later in the meeting in the context of performance measures and the Start tool work that the council will use to set priorities and resource alignment.