Workforce Housing That Helps Flagstaff’s Middle-Income Earners Stay Local
Flagstaff works because of the people who keep it running — educators, healthcare workers, service industry professionals, tradespeople, city staff, and countless others who power our local economy. Yet for many middle-income earners, finding a rental they can actually afford in Flagstaff has become increasingly out of reach.
Western Hills Apartments is Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona’s newest workforce housing community, intentionally designed to help Flagstaff’s middle-income earners remain and have the opportunity to thrive in our community.
This development represents a new chapter in Housing Solutions’ longstanding commitment to creative housing solutions. While our previous motel conversions focus on housing households experiencing homelessness, Western Hills Apartments address a different need in Flagstaff: stable, below-market rentals for our local workforce.
Part of a Bigger Housing Strategy
Western Hills Apartments is the third motel-to-housing conversion managed by Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona. Together, these projects reflect our belief that strong communities require housing options across the entire spectrum of need:
• JoJo’s Place: Transitional housing for households experiencing homelessness
• Oak Wash Homes: Permanent housing for households exiting homelessness
• Western Hills Apartments: Workforce housing for Flagstaff’s middle-income earners
Building a Community Where People Can Stay
When Flagstaff’s workforce can afford to live locally, everyone benefits — shorter commutes, stronger neighborhoods, a healthier local economy, and deeper community connections. Western Hills Apartments is more than an apartment complex. It’s an investment in the people who make Flagstaff home.
A Thoughtful Reuse of Flagstaff History
Formerly the Western Hills Motel, a 1950’s Route 66 landmark, this property has been completely reimagined to meet today’s housing needs while honoring its historic roots. What was once a roadside motel is now a modern, thoughtfully designed apartment community with an on-site restaurant.
The property has been fully remodeled into 29 studio, 1, and 2 bedroom apartments, offering a range of options for individuals, couples, and small families who want to live close to work, school, and community.
Western Hills Apartments includes:
• Twenty-nine units
• A mix of studio, 1, and 2 bedroom apartments
• Modern interiors and updated building systems
• A walkable, centrally located Flagstaff setting
This motel-to-housing conversion was made possible in part through funding awarded by the City of Flagstaff’s Adaptive Reuse Bond Program, which supports the transformation of underutilized properties into much needed housing. We are deeply grateful for the City’s investment in expanding attainable workforce housing opportunities in Flagstaff.
What Is Workforce Housing?
Workforce housing refers to rental homes that are attainable to middle-income households, those who often earn too much to qualify for traditional subsidized housing, yet not enough to comfortably afford market-rate rents. In Flagstaff, this gap has pushed many workers to live farther from their jobs, commute from surrounding communities, or ultimately leave the local workforce altogether. Workforce housing helps close that gap by providing attainable rental options for the people who are essential to our community.
At Western Hills Apartments, households must earn no more than 80% of Area Median Income (AMI), ensuring these homes remain accessible to Flagstaff’s local workforce.
Designed to Be More Accessible
Western Hills Motel Apartments removes many of the common barriers that make renting difficult for working households.
How we’re making workforce housing more accessible:
• Below market rental rates
• ALL utilities included in the rent
• No application fee
• Lower security deposit
• Pets welcome
• No credit check
• Background check required, with a review process that considers individual circumstances and the nature of any past offenses
• Flexible lease exit: Residents may provide 30 day written notice to end their lease if their needs change — because we want what’s best for our residents and understand housing needs change over time. 12-month, renewable leases provide security for tenants, but the option a tenant has to terminate the lease with a 30-day written notice gives the tenant flexibility and control over their housing.
If Western Hills isn’t the right fit longterm, our team will work with applicants to help identify housing options or rental rates better suited to their needs whenever possible.
Income Qualifications
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Minimum income requirement: Household must earn at least 2x the monthly rent.
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Total gross household income must fall under the following Flagstaff AMI limits based on household size:
Household Size | 2025 Flagstaff 80% AMI Limits |
|---|---|
1 person household | $61,120 |
2 person household | $69,840 |
3 person household | $78,560 |
4 person household | $87,280 |
Household income is based on total gross annual income (before taxes and deductions) from all sources, including but not limited to:
• Employment income
• Social Security or disability benefits
• Unemployment benefits
• Child support or alimony
• Public assistance
• Pensions and annuities
• Interest, dividends, stocks, and bonds
• Insurance settlements
• Recurring gifts from family or friends
• Lottery or gaming winnings
Documentation is required for all income and assets for every household member.
Rental Rates
Western Hills Apartments offers rents intentionally set below market rate to support Flagstaff’s workforce.
Unit Size | Base Rent | Utilities | Total Rent | % of FMR (Fair Market Rent) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio | $1,150/month | $150 | $1,300 | 83% |
Larger Studio | $1,225/month | $150 | $1,375 | 88% |
1-Bedroom | $1,300/month | $175 | $1,475 | 86% |
2-Bedroom | $1,375/month | $250 | $1,625 | 84% |
Interested in applying or learning more?
If you believe Western Hills Apartments may be a good fit for your household, please complete the interest application linked to below.
After submission, an Housing Solutions of Northern Arizona Property Manager will follow up with you via your preferred contact method to request any additional documentation needed to verify qualification and to schedule a unit tour.
There is no application fee to submit this interest form.