Community Benefits

It’s about families. Safe, affordable housing is a basic necessity for every family. A home is a foundation for people to become productive members of society, a place for children to learn and where families thrive. Housing is an important safety net for people and yet housing continues to be a challenge in many communities. A home is a springboard for moderate-income families like teachers, firefighters and health care workers to develop assets and save for the future.

It’s about economic development. A full 10% of Colorado’s gross state product consists of the production of housing and the value of housing services. Not accounted for in this 10% are other closely related industries driven by home construction. The production of housing creates jobs, generates taxes and wages, and is vital for the economic well-being of our local economies. Affordable housing plays a crucial role in this valuable sector of our state’s economy.

It’s about jobs. The workforce in Colorado is as diverse as the landscape, and yet many of the jobs our workers hold do not pay enough to afford the median priced home. Many of Colorado’s firefighters, law enforcement personnel, educators, retailers and healthcare providers are forced to “drive ‘til they qualify” in order to house their families—and that places a genuine strain on our workforce. The Colorado Division of Housing states that “affordable housing is about providing housing in proximity to places of work to ensure that people who provide the necessary services have a place to live that is accessible.” In order for our community to have jobs and housing balance, the people in our workforce need to live near their job.

It’s about education. Your home provides the environment to learn, feel safe and grow roots. Stable housing provides security that carries over into other aspects of life. Children without stable housing suffer in schools; they often fall behind academically and socially, lack social support systems, and disrupt the classroom experience for their educators and peers. When families move frequently, school records are often lost, creating delays for a child to enroll in the new school. Teachers must devote more time and resources into helping transient students adjust and are less able to direct attention toward other students.

It’s about community. Developing and building affordable housing is an opportunity to create a richly layered community that is responsive to the social and physical needs of its residents. Community is a value we all seek: a place to belong, a place to be supported, a place to feel safe, and a place to contribute our own strengths and values. The strongest communities are those that allow everyone to participate. They are diverse and are comprised of all ages and incomes.

It’s about health care. Homes are places for living and healing; they are sacred spaces for rest, nourishment, relationships, and escaping natural elements. The health of Colorado’s citizenry depends on the availability of decent and reasonably priced housing. Poor or difficult housing conditions jeopardize both psychological and physical health. With limited resources to meet basic needs, families are often forced to make agonizing decisions about their housing, food, health care and utilities. Often they choose less of each, to make ends meet.

It’s about people like you! Housing isn’t built for the pure joy of pounding boards together; it is built for families and individuals to have a place to call home. Housing is for all people: rich and poor, young and old. If you didn’t have a secure and safe home, how would your life be different? That picture is reality for too many of our friends, family members and neighbors.

Join us and make a difference by creating an investment in Colorado and our people!