Phoenix Facts

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Phoenix

In a Boomtown,   Many Still Struggle to Move Up

Phoenix is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States, with a population that rose by two-thirds over the last two decades and is now 1.35 million. One reason was a technology boom in the 1990s, but another was an influx of Mexican migrant workers.   According to the U.S. Census, the Hispanic community went from 20% of Phoenix's population in 1990 to 34% in 2000.

Many of these newer residents lack the financial capacity for homeownership. The 2000 Census showed that the gap between rich and poor in Phoenix is expanding. Although median income increased moderately over the last decade, blacks and Latinos earn on average $16,000 to $18,000 less than their white counterparts. In areas such as South Phoenix, about 30 percent of the population lives below the poverty line.

Community development systems are still in their early stages in Phoenix, but over the last decade CDCs have taken important steps to make quality, low-cost housing available in immigrant communities. Nine years ago the city had only one CDC. In just over a decade 13 have been formed, together producing over 1,600 new housing units. Some of their larger-scale projects include a $70 million redevelopment in downtown Roosevelt Square, which includes renovation of 400 apartments and build-out of 30,000 square feet of street-level retail space.