Affordable Housing

The state House earlier this year passed two bills designed to make it easier to build houses on smaller lots.

Move comes as officials work to rebuild public trust, map out process for renewed annexation discussions

The measure would connect local efforts and require the state to map out a broader strategy for preventing and reducing homelessness — something advocates have called on for years.

The problem stems from a provision in Proposition 123 that was supposed to hold local governments accountable for increasing the supply of affordable housing.

But remain higher than pre-pandemic levels

The HOME Act would also make it easier for transit agencies, public housing authorities and certain nonprofits to build housing on land they already own, even if it isn’t zoned for residential use.

Fourteen groups applied for a share of a new $500,000 fund created by a voter-approved sales tax. County officials said the ideas were not innovative enough, frustrating many applicants.

Upgrades to an affordable housing development for seniors in Fort Collins, a new transit and housing hub in downtown Longmont and a new pedestrian bridge in Denver over Interstate 25 are all receiving money among the first round of state grants to encourage communities to build denser developments.

Talks later stalled for plans of a relocation of the longstanding city establishment.

Democrats Michael Bennet, Phil Weiser seek to lead the state that ranks among the 10 least affordable for housing.