One of the nation’s leading state conferences on affordable housing begins Tuesday in Vail.
The 23rd annual Housing Colorado Now! Conference is expected to draw nearly 600 policymakers, advocates and affordable housing developers and builders for the four-day event.
Data from the state’s Division of Housing shows that nearly half of Colorado renters spend more than half their income on housing – in part because of a lack of affordable rentals. Housing Colorado’s Executive Director Nancy Engelken says addressing the state’s affordable housing shortage has an impact beyond helping renters find safe, stable housing.
“Once you get people into a home that is affordable, where they’re not spending one out of every two dollars in their pocket on housing – then they start returning their income back to the community. And that helps support jobs.”
Workshops will focus on different issues including rural and mountain communities, supportive services, financing of affordable housing projects. The conference wraps up on Friday, Oct. 14.
