When the Tucson Metro Chamber talks about building a healthy workforce in Pima County, we're really talking about creating opportunities for our neighbors, friends, and family members to thrive in their chosen careers. Yet for about one-fifth of our community, the inescapable challenge of finding attainable housing stands in the way of pursuing their professional dreams, contributing their talents to our local economy, and building their generational wealth. 

Right here, right now, many Pima County community members face difficult choices between paying rent and investing in their future. Nearly half of renters spend more than 30% of their income on housing, leaving little room for educational attainment opportunities or savings. 

It’s unsurprising then that housing attainability has been a top issue for our member employers. Even as they seek to keep wages in line with costs of living, the rapidly increasing cost of housing makes workforce retention harder than ever.  

How Housing Unattainability Affects Local Talent Development 

Besides the most common impacts of housing unattainability, it also ripples through our community in ways that are often less seen, especially when it comes to talent development:  

Educational Barriers 

When our young people and working adults can't count on attainable housing, pursuing additional education or training becomes nearly impossible. Students wanting to enroll in postsecondary education institutions shouldn’t have to choose between paying rent and tuition. And working parents might delay enrolling in certification programs because housing costs consume their savings. 

Career Growth Limitations 

Many of our community members have the potential to advance in their careers through additional training or education, but high housing costs force them to take second jobs just to make ends meet. This means less time and energy for professional development, trapping talented individuals in entry-level positions despite their potential. 

Generational Impact 

When parents struggle with housing costs, it affects their children's educational and career opportunities. Young people might need to enter the workforce early instead of pursuing higher education, or families might need to move frequently, disrupting education and community connections. 

Building Initiative for Pima County 

To nurture local talent and create pathways to prosperity, we need initiatives that prioritize Pima County residents. The public policy work on housing coming out of the Chamber largely supports the direction outlined in the Prosperity Initiative, passed by both the City of Tucson and Pima County, and other surrounding jurisdictions.  

Achieving attainable housing begins with the work we do every day. Partnering with local jurisdictions to streamline building requirements and regulations, reduce permit and development timelines, and develop friendlier zoning to make more housing development happen in our region. We need more income aligned housing to reduce the upward pressure on prices for everyone.  

There are also housing initiatives that make sense to be supported by the public sector, such as:  

Community-Based Housing Initiatives 

Support housing developments that serve existing neighborhood residents, ensuring that as our community develops, we're creating opportunities for current residents to remain and thrive in their neighborhoods. 

Preservation of Existing Affordable Housing 

Protect and improve existing affordable housing stock to maintain neighborhood stability and prevent displacement of long-time residents who contribute to our community's fabric. 

Support for Local Career Advancement 

Create programs that combine housing assistance with career development opportunities, allowing community members to focus on building their skills without fear of housing instability. 

The Potential Impact for Our Community 

When our neighbors have stable, attainable housing, they can: 

• Invest in education and training to advance their careers
• Start small businesses that serve local needs
• Participate more fully in community life
• Build generational wealth through homeownership 
• Contribute their talents and skills to strengthen our local economy 
   

And when we can get to these outcomes, we are looking at wins for Pima County’s economic growth and our community’s ability to thrive! 

For more information on what your Tucson Metro Chamber’s workforce advocacy team is doing, please contact Frank Velasquez Jr. at fvelasquezjr@tucsonchamber.org.