Affordable Housing Program

Approximately 1.2 million men, women, and children in Arizona currently live below the poverty line. An additional 300,000 individuals live just above the official poverty line in Arizona according to the U.S. Census.  According to the 2016 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, "the Phoenix/Mesa/Maricopa County Region contains one of the largest number of homeless people in families with children." 

LCSA maintains a variety of affordable housing units that includes apartments, townhomes, and single-family homes in the Phoenix area. Since 1974, LCSA has been providing stability and empowerment services to vulnerable families in our community. Our mission is "to serve the general welfare of the community and to advocate for health and human services that adequately meet the needs of all members of the community, especially the most vulnerable and dependent." Our Housing Program consists of 95 units of affordable housing.  Homeless families with children come to LCSA vulnerable, in crisis, and in need of the most basic resources. Our housing team quickly moves families into available units, then works with families to obtain basic needs, community resources/benefits, employment, life skills, financial coaching, and permanent housing opportunities. Our 95 Housing Units are scattered throughout the Phoenix area and consist of 2 bedroom, 3 bedroom, and 4 bedroom apartments, townhomes, and houses

If you are interested in one of our affordable housing properties, complete the LCSA Housing Application linked below. The completed application can be emailed or post-mailed to our agency. 

LCSA_Affordable_Housing_Application

Securing Help In Family Transportation (SHIFT)

SHIFT is the only affordable car purchasing program for working poor families in Arizona operated by the 501c3 nonprofit organization, Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA).   The goal of this workforce development program is to target families with an income below 80% of the area median income who identify the lack of transportation as the primary barrier to achieving a living wage and economic stability. These families are matched with an affordable and reliable vehicle that includes a 24 month 100% maintenance agreement.  Working poor families are often caught in a difficult predicament. They have reached a level of stability where they are no longer in immediate crisis, have obtained low-wage employment, may have had government benefits reduced or eliminated, but are still one paycheck away from falling back into economic crisis. Purchasing a car can be a gateway to higher-paying jobs, reduced stress, and significant improvements to the quality of life.

For many working poor families, predatory lenders are a major threat to their long-term economic independence.  A vehicle purchase can be the catalyst to moving out of poverty or the start of a debt spiral that cripples a family’s financial security.  The SHIFT Program allows families to enter into an agreement where they pay a modest monthly program fee ($220) that includes the maintenance coverage agreement and individualized workforce development/financial coaching.  With the security of having a reliable and affordable vehicle, families must set realistic goals for increasing their earned income, improving budgeting skills, reducing debt, and engaging in mainstream banking.  SHIFT is more than just a car purchasing program; it is an economic growth and workforce development tool that allows families to access higher-paying jobs while avoiding predatory lenders who can cripple their financial future.  

LCSA has established strong data tracking and outcome measures to determine the economic impact a SHIFT vehicle can have on a working poor family over the course of 2 years.  Some of these outcome measurements include:

• Increases in employment wages and benefits
• Establishing mainstream bank accounts
• Reducing debt
• Rebuilding credit

At the end of the program, families will have obtained a new asset in the form of a vehicle that they can continue to drive, trade, or sell.  They will also have obtained vital budgeting and auto maintenance skills that come with responsible car ownership.