Arizona Housing Forum Opens in Phoenix With Call to Deliver Affordable Housing Solutions

By Arizona Asians Staff

Phoenix, Arizona — The Arizona Department of Housing is bringing together housing leaders, developers, service providers, local governments, tribal representatives and community stakeholders this week for the 2026 Arizona Housing Forum, a statewide gathering focused on expanding affordable housing solutions across Arizona.

The forum is being held August 26–28, 2026, at the Arizona Grand in Phoenix. This year’s theme, “Show Me the Housing,” is a direct call to action for the affordable housing industry to move beyond discussion and deliver measurable results for Arizona families and communities.

Focus on Housing That Gets Built

The annual forum is expected to draw more than 500 attendees from public, private, nonprofit and tribal sectors. Sessions will focus on practical housing strategies, including affordable housing development, services for unhoused residents, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit best practices, Community Development Block Grants and other tools used to support housing and community development.

ADOH Director Ruby Dhillon-Williams said the forum gives the state an opportunity to learn from partners and identify faster, smarter solutions to Arizona’s housing needs.

The message is especially important as Arizona continues to face pressure from population growth, rising housing costs and increasing demand for affordable rental and ownership options.

State and Local Leaders to Participate

The program will include a message from Governor Katie Hobbs, while Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is expected to share the city’s work and progress on affordable housing development.

The keynote speaker will be Tushar Kansal of The Pew Charitable Trusts, who works with Pew’s housing policy initiative. His work focuses on research and policy analysis related to increasing housing availability and improving access to safe home financing.

Public Sessions Open for Comment

Two afternoon sessions will be open to the general public and include opportunities for public comment:

• Thursday, August 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. — Tribal housing issues

• Friday, August 28, 2026, at 2 p.m. — Qualified Allocation Plan and the state’s Consolidated Plan

These sessions give community members and stakeholders an opportunity to provide input on housing priorities that affect communities across Arizona.

Why It Matters

Affordable housing affects families, seniors, students, workers, small businesses and local economies. For Arizona’s Asian and immigrant communities, access to stable and affordable housing can be especially important for new families, multigenerational households, students and workers trying to build long-term roots in the state.

The 2026 Arizona Housing Forum highlights the need for collaboration among government agencies, developers, nonprofit organizations, service providers and community voices. The central goal is clear: more housing options, stronger communities and better outcomes for Arizonans.