I am writing this petition from a place of personal experience and concern. A friend of mine recently reached out to me, desperate for a place to stay due to the high cost of living in Mesa, Arizona. This is not an isolated incident; multiple peers have approached me seeking help with housing. Despite my willingness to assist, I was unable to provide any substantial aid as I live in a two-bedroom apartment with my significant other and our resources are limited.

This situation has resulted in yet another individual without a home or options - an unfortunate reality for too many people in our community. We do not have to operate the way we have been doing so far in the US; less focus on money and more focus on people should be our guiding principle.

According to data from Zillow (2021), the median home price in Mesa is $315,000 - well above what many residents can afford. The lack of affordable housing options exacerbates this issue further.

We call upon local government officials and policymakers to take immediate action by reducing housing costs and increasing affordable housing availability within Mesa, Arizona. This will not only alleviate financial stress for current residents but also provide opportunities for those who are currently homeless or at risk of becoming so.

Please sign this petition if you believe that everyone deserves access to affordable housing – because it's time we put people over profit.