About
Colorado Century of Opportunity
Celebrating our 100th year serving Coloradans, the Colorado Association of REALTORS® is working to find solutions to the barriers of homeownership for all Coloradans. Help us usher in a Colorado Century of Opportunity.
Homeownership has become out of reach for too many Coloradans. At a time when access to safe, affordable housing is more important than ever — Colorado is facing a housing crisis.
From 2009 – 2019, more than 60% of home prices outpaced income growth in Colorado1.
Colorado can do more. Everyone deserves the option to build the future they want.
1) 2021 State and Local Policy Strategies to Advance Housing Affordability Report – Rosen Consulting Group, LLC
About Habitat for Humanity of Colorado
Habitat for Humanity brings people together to build homes, communities and hope. Twenty-five Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Colorado are building in 45 communities, and to date have partnered with over 3,100 families who would otherwise not be unable to obtain the security, stability, and hope that homeownership can provide.
Through a five-year, Cost of Home campaign, Habitat for Humanity of Colorado seeks to identify and improve policies and systems through coordinated advocacy efforts at the local, state and federal levels. Cost of Home focuses on improving housing affordability across the housing continuum in four specific policy areas: increasing supply and preservation of affordable homes, equitably increasing access to credit, optimizing land use for affordable homes, and ensuring access to and development of communities of opportunity. For more information about Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.habitatcolorado.org.
Help Usher in a New Century of Opportunity for Colorado Homeowners
When planning the future of housing in Colorado, policymakers need to consider:
Financial Literacy Education
Residents should receive the education they need to achieve upward mobility. Financial literacy high-school curriculum should include understanding credit, debt, and student loans, as well as preparing for homeownership and retirement.
Requiring Division of Housing Annual Reporting
Colorado lawmakers should pass legislation to annually get a comprehensive picture of the state’s housing needs, be transparent about how we are meeting those needs, and base long-term affordable housing decisions on data.
Incentivizing Best Practices in Affordable Housing Development
We should empower and reward local governments that pursue policies that increase the potential for building or developing more supply of affordable housing to meet Colorado’s needs.
Credit Building Programs
Colorado should promote pilot programs that level the playing field for populations of color and give renters opportunities to build their credit so they can access homeownership.