ACF of Cochise

Attaining affordable housing in Bisbee, in the southeastern part of the state, remains a challenge for those working in the area. Factors like increased tourism, the conversion of long-term rentals into vacation rentals, and the rising cost of home sales and rentals make it especially difficult for Bisbee’s residents to obtain long-term affordable housing options.

The Workforce Housing Initiative, a partnership between Step Up Bisbee Naco and the City of Bisbee, is a self-sustaining program that reinvests proceeds from home sales into future projects. Since 2020, the nonprofit has renovated or built 10 homes, providing affordable housing for essential workers and addressing Bisbee’s growing housing crisis. Step Up Bisbee Naco is starting a nine-house development project that a $25,000 grant from the Arizona Community Foundation will help bring to fruition.

“The funding from ACF will help us expand our workforce housing program,” said Danielle Bouchever, SUBN Board Member, “It will allow us to renovate or build more homes for hospital staff, teachers, firefighters, city employees, and police officers.”

Once a home is ready to sell, SUBN provides up to a 20% discount on the appraised value for the vital workers they hope to recruit and retain in the community.

Candace DeWitt works at Copper Queen Community Hospital in Bisbee. She is also a caretaker for her mother and her best friend’s father. Before she was approved for the loan to purchase a house through Step Up Bisbee Naco, she was traveling over two hours per day between caretaking and work.