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Affordable Housing in Ajo, Arizona: Artist-Focused LIHTC Project in Former Mining Town
CATEGORY
Affordable Housing
DATA
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
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Affordable Housing
LIHTC Projects
Median Income
Racial Distributions
Population
Ajo, Arizona, is a small community with a population of 2,930 as of 2022. The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program has contributed to the affordable housing inventory in Ajo, providing 21 units in LIHTC-funded projects, of which 17 are designated as low-income units. Based on the estimated housing inventory of approximately 1,123 units, LIHTC-funded affordable housing comprises about 1.87% of the city's housing stock.
Ajo has received $511,315 in project tax credits from the LIHTC program for affordable housing. With one project, this translates to an average federal funding of $511,315 per project and $24,348 per unit. The city holds 0.25% of the total state funding for LIHTC projects in Arizona.
The sole LIHTC-funded project in Ajo is the Curley School Apts, completed in 2007. This project has been providing affordable housing in the city for over 15 years. The Curley School Apts project offers a diverse range of unit types, including 4 efficiencies, 1 one-bedroom unit, 12 two-bedroom units, and 4 three-bedroom units. The project specifically targets artists as its population, suggesting a unique approach to affordable housing in Ajo.
Over the past decade, Ajo's population has decreased from 3,580 in 2017 to 2,930 in 2022. However, the median income has increased from $29,081 in 2017 to $41,290 in 2022. This increase in median income could potentially impact the demand for affordable housing in the area.
Regarding racial distribution, the Hispanic population has remained relatively stable, comprising around 40-45% of the population throughout most of the decade. The White population has increased from 38% in 2017 to 58% in 2022. The Native American population has decreased from 16% in 2017 to 6% in 2022.
Ajo's affordable housing landscape is characterized by a single LIHTC-funded project, the Curley School Apts, which provides 21 units of diverse sizes. This project, targeting artists, represents a small but significant portion of the city's estimated housing inventory. While the population has decreased over the past decade, rising median incomes and shifts in racial demographics may influence future affordable housing needs in the community. The LIHTC program's contribution plays a role in addressing affordable housing needs in this small Arizona community.
