Questions and topics raised at the event 

Due to the rapid evolution of conversations at the event in multiple formats, and the wonderful volume of interaction among attendees, many ideas, questions, and observations were raised over the course of the event. The following questions, paraphrased for brevity and format consistency, are our attempt to capture just some of the breadth of the event and to elevate the many contributions of the community members who took part. We apologize for any misinterpretation of questions asked or issues raised. 

 Zoning & Development 

• How can we create mixed-use housing for everyone? 
• How can we make better use of space in our cities? 
• Why is there often such a strong negative reaction by potential neighbors to siting affordable housing developments nearby? 
• How can we do zoning change in a way that results in duplexes and triplexes being built evenly across the city, not only in neighborhoods that have cheaper land because of redlining history? In other words, how do we “up-zone” equitably? 
• How can we incentivize developers to transform vacant office buildings into SRO (single-room occupancy) housing? 
• How do we increase affordable housing opportunities in rural communities? 

Housing Trends 

• How can we break down the commodification of housing? 
• How do we better prepare for and accommodate population growth in our state? 
• How might we prohibit large corporations from purchasing affordable homes and converting them to expensive rentals? 
• How has the Poundstone Amendment impacted housing in the Denver area? 
• How can we better align the Housing and Urban Development voucher with the Denver market so that landlords will accept it? 

Supportive Housing for People with Disabilities 

• How can we increase affordable housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities? 
• How can we advocate “desire priority” for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to enable more opportunities for supportive housing and integrated communities? 
• What are the pros and cons of individualized versus congregate residences for people with various disabilities? 

Alternative Living Arrangements 

• Are there any organizations in Colorado working towards kibbutzim-style communities? 
• How can we develop inclusive housing for all groups, including options like the Second Chance Centers for people leaving incarceration? 
• How might we better address equity through shared living arrangements? 

Permanent Public Housing 

• Some Scandinavian countries have worked to create permanent safe housing for all. How can we create safe housing options from birth to death? 
• How might Denver or surrounding cities realistically build social housing (such as publicly owned, mixed income, large apartment complexes)? 

Resources shared by attendees via chat 

We are also grateful for the many interesting resources shared by our attendees on affordable housing topics. 

• The Division of Housing (in Colorado’s Department of Local Affairs) published this list of summer engagement opportunities related to the bills that were passed during the 2022 legislative session: https://cdola.colorado.gov/2022-summer-engagement-outreach-division-of-housing. 
• Trailhead Community is one model to support individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, integrated and supportive. www.trailheadcommunity.org 
• Grounded Solutions provides an introductory overview of various shared equity models: https://groundedsolutions.org/strengthening-neighborhoods/shared-equity-homeownership   
• This article by the Terner Center at the University of California Berkeley details some of the ways high development fees on homebuilders can impact housing affordability. https://ternercenter.berkeley.edu/blog/it-all-adds-up-the-cost-of-housing-development-fees-in-seven-california-cities/ 
• In 2017 the National Housing Conference released a report on the role of anchor institutions (such as hospitals and universities) in supporting affordable housing: https://nhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/The-Role-of-Anchor-Institutions-in-Restoring-Neighborhoods-Health-Institutions-as-a-Catalyst-for-Affordable-Housing-and-Community-Development-.pdf 
• The Strong, Prosperous, And Resilient Communities Challenge (SPARCC) published this 2019 article on Principles for Parks and Equitable Development: https://www.sparcchub.org/2019/08/27/principles-for-parks-and-equitable-development/  
• Greater housing density in new construction can provide substantial ecological benefits as well. 
• This published study by researchers at Colorado School of Mines showed that multifamily housing developments in Denver reduced outdoor water usage by over 30%: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0169204621001419. 
• Likewise, a study by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) showed even greater reductions in BTUs required for heating and cooling in higher density housing developments: https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-03/documents/location_efficiency_btu.pdf  
• Finally, this article by the Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP) details the climate and air pollution mitigation opportunities in smart land use in Colorado: https://www.swenergy.org/smart-land-use-colorado 

For Part 1: The Event, ARPA, & more, read here.

For Part 2: ADUs, mobile homes, rent stabilization, and new development, read here.

Read more about affordable housing bills passed in 2022 in our Housing Legislation list here.