Groundbreaking Marks Construction of Affordable Housing Collaboration

Maricopa County Government
4 min readNov 17, 2021

November 2021

City of Avondale, Maricopa County, and Non-profit Trellis Partner to Bring Affordable Homes Ready for Occupancy in Summer 2022

Construction is now underway on a project that will bring new affordable homes to the West Valley for low to moderate income homebuyers. The collaborative project between the City of Avondale, Maricopa County, H&B Builders, Architectural Resource Team, and the community housing development organization Trellis, will bring three new homes to vacant lots located at the northwest corner of Elwood Street and El Mirage Road.

Three new, energy efficient homes will be built in Avondale and sold to low to moderate income families as part of a collaboration between Maricopa County, the City of Avondale and Trellis.

The new homes will be sold to low to moderate income buyers. For a family of four to qualify, the maximum income is $63,200 per year. As part of the program, prospective homebuyers will receive homebuyer counseling through Trellis and qualified first-time buyers may receive down payment assistance. To ensure that the homes remain affordable to the buyers for the long term, the homes have been designed with energy efficiency in mind.

“Avondale is a community that seeks to provide a wide range of housing options for our residents. This includes workforce housing to meet the needs of our young families. We are pleased to partner with Maricopa County and Trellis on this project,” said Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise.

Avondale Mayor Kenn Weise makes remarks at the groundbreaking ceremony for a collaboration that will bring affordable housing to Avondale.

To support its goal of providing affordable housing options throughout the county, the Maricopa County Human Services Department partnered with the City of Avondale to provide $445,000 of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding to support Trellis with the design by the Architectural Resource Team and construction of the project by H & B Builders.

“We are thrilled that through this collaboration, in just a few short months, three families will have the stability, security, and sense of community that comes with homeownership,” said Jacqueline Edwards, director for Maricopa County Human Services. “With the explosion in housing prices, buying a home can seem far out of reach. It is our priority to continue to provide affordable housing opportunities, such as this partnership in Avondale, that allows families to thrive and be connected to their local community.”

Maricopa County Human Services Director Jacqueline Edwards remarks on how this project will change the lives of three families in just a few short months.

Trellis at Avondale homes are also fully integrated “smart homes” allowing future homeowners to closely monitor water usage and energy consumption with such features as Wi-Fi capable switches and outlets.

According to Glenn Karlson, Trellis Director of Real Estate Development, “Trellis is not just a typical affordable homebuilder– we build our homes to be future-proof, environmentally friendly, and technologically advanced. Our overall goal is to help bring a high-quality home to the market that also lives comfortably and sustainably. Affordable should never equate to a lower quality-built home.”

The homes are near local amenities including Friendship Park, grocery stores, and the amenities and events taking place at the Avondale Civic Center Complex.

With permits already issued by the City of Avondale, construction is set to begin immediately. The three homes are projected to be ready for occupancy in summer 2022.

For more information on the project and to inquire about purchasing one of the homes, contact Glenn Karlson at Trellis at 602.424.4025 and visit www.TrellisAZ.org.

Media Contact
Ingrid Melle, City of Avondale, 623.333.1614, imelle@AvondaleAZ.gov
Amy Bolton, Maricopa County Human Services, 602.679.4792, Amy.Bolton@Maricopa.gov

Project Contact
Glenn Karlson, Trellis, 602.424.4025, gkarlson@trellisaz.org

About Maricopa County Human Services

As the fourth largest county in the nation and home to some of the nation’s fastest-growing cities, Maricopa County’s population is large, growing and more diverse than ever. Maricopa County’s Human Services Department has five divisions that provide services and programs to people of all ages and abilities to promote their well-being. From offering early education to career training and employment services to case management for aging and adults with disabilities — the Human Services Department serves as a leader in the region to support strong families, neighborhoods, and community relationships. Learn more about the financial, educational, and support resources available to eligible Maricopa County residents at www.HSD.maricopa.gov.

About the City of Avondale

Avondale, Arizona is a community where people share a deep sense of pride in what has been accomplished and how far we have come. In Avondale, there is a strong belief that the blending of a broad spectrum of cultures comes from a true sense of harmony throughout the community. Here, people and businesses are welcomed with open arms and supported in a way that exemplifies a dynamic, intelligent, and driven city, ready to take on the future. Avondale is Aspiring. Achieving. Accelerating. Learn more at www.AvondaleAZ.gov.

About Trellis

Trellis, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was formed in 1975 to make stable homes and communities possible. Trellis helps individuals and families across Arizona with homeownership counseling, financial access, and neighborhood development — operating under the vision of an Arizona where everyone has a place to call home. Learn more at www.TrellisAZ.org.

--

--