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News

Jul 6, 2016

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Recent articles

CCLP testifies in support of TANF grant rule change

Apr 15, 2024

CCLP's Emeritus Advisor, Chaer Robert, provided written testimony in support of the CDHS rule on the COLA increase for TANF recipients. If the rule is adopted, the cost of living increase would go into effect on July 1, 2024.

CCLP’s legislative watch for April 5, 2024

Apr 5, 2024

For the 2024 legislative session, CCLP is keeping its eye on bills focused on expanding access to justice, removing administrative burden, preserving affordable communities, advocating for progressive tax and wage policies, and reducing health care costs.

MHC Updates

by | Jul 6, 2016

Mile High Connects, Newsletters

Welcome to New MHC Team Member Deyanira Zavala, Program Coordinator

Deyanira Zavala oversees the implementation and execution of MHC’s workplan by creating and managing partnership opportunities and tracking workplan deliverables. She focuses on MHC’s Business, Local Workforce, and Middle Skilled Jobs and MHC’s Affordable Fares priority areas, as well as MHC’s gentrification/anti-displacement efforts. Prior to joining Mile High Connects, Deyanira served as Program Coordinator at Rocky Mountain MicroFinance Institute, a Community creating mobility in people’s lives through entrepreneurs. In this role, Deyanira implemented the organization’s Post Boot Camp program, dedicated to support entrepreneurs with continued mentorship and one-on-one coaching. Deyanira has also served as the Business Assistance Center Manager with Business and Community Lenders of Texas and Program Coordinator with NALCAB- National Association for Latino Community Asset Builders, where she facilitated a variety of projects in support of NALCAB member organizations, including resource development and capacity building activities. Deyanira holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of North Texas and a Bachelor of Arts in Criminology from the University of Texas at Arlington. Deyanira is trained Technology of Participation (ToP) facilitator and alumni of the Young Nonprofits Professional Network Elevate Denver fellowship program.

Deya

Deyanira Zavala, Program Coordinator, Mile High Connects

Affordable Housing

In addition to many of its Steering Committee members being active participants in the formal stakeholder process, MHC submitted a formal letter to the City of Denver regarding the sources and proposed uses of its proposed dedicated fund for affordable housing. Specifically, we made strong recommendations that the city not use the Mayor’s minimum goal of $150M over 10 years as a ceiling/goal and instead maximize both the mill levy and impact fee components individually.  With regard to the impact fee, we specifically recommended that there should be no minimum threshold in terms of size/square footage, and no exemptions for government, non-profits, etc. except for deed restricted affordable housing.  Importantly, we also argued that renovation of multifamily properties should not be exempt, as we hear from our community organizing partners that is one of the primary causes of displacement pressures. Finally, we offered to be a thought partners on defining the range of affordability under the proposed ordinances but in all cases will push for longer required affordability periods, either through ground leases or deed restrictions. We are grateful to the City and its leadership for including Mile High Connects in the process and for taking our recommendations seriously.

Advisory Council

On June 29, the MHC Advisory Council invited Tony Romano from Right to the City, to share the story of his organization/coalition and its core principles that housing is a fundamental right for all people and that the community should have the ability to own and control not just land/property but the process by which its created. He challenged the group to think beyond the confines of the programs in which we work (LIHTC, Section 8, CDBG, etc.) because those programs have deep roots in racism and segregation. After being inspired or challenged (or both) by Tony, the group worked in small groups to identify and physically map which organizations were working to overcome gentrification and displacement and where and thought about whether there might be natural allies for the work among powerful/grass-tops organizations and agencies. It was a powerful discussion that was sure to lead to a lot of future ideas and debate among MHC and its many partners.

Coming Home: Yesterday, Today, & Tomorrow

Westminster residents, artists, city councilors, and community based organizations came together on Friday June 24th for a closing reception of the Coming Home Art Exhibit. This reception took place at the local artists hub called the Rodeo Market, which marked the end of a month long art exhibit where local artists submitted beautiful, tactful, and abstract art pieces that captured the essence of home and the stark reality that too many living in Westminster are seeing their housing stability and human right to housing disappear. This event titled Coming Home: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, was organized by the “We Organize Westminster” Campaign of FRESC and the South Westminster Arts Group to create awareness around the issues of displacement, homelessness, and the need for more affordable housing. Through a lively panel discussion made up of housing experts, community organizations, and community members, we ignited a dialogue around the impacts of displacement, and the need for better affordable housing policies and better renter’s protections.  In attendance were Mayor Pro-Tem Alberto Garcia, and Councilor Emma Pinter. Along with their partners on council, both of them were instrumental in creating the first ever city council proclamation in Spanish to raise awareness for affordable housing, which marked the day of this reception, Coming Home Day.

“Like most of Colorado, we know we have a housing crisis in Westminster. What makes Westminster special when it comes to addressing this crisis is the remarkable citizen leaders who have stepped up with WOW to share their stories and help push for better solutions. We have our first train station opening in Westminster on July 25th. Our council has made it important that we have economic vitality and affordable housing throughout our city. The people who work in our city need to be able to afford to live in our city.” – Quote from Councilor Emma Pinter regarding the event.

First and Last Mile Connections

Invest Health

MHC is part of a coalition of community leaders that recently received a $60,000 national grant to help improve the health of low-income residents in Westminster and adjacent areas of Adams County. The goal of the Invest Health initiative, a project of Reinvestment Fund and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, is to transform how leaders from mid-size American cities work together to help improve health outcomes for low-income communities. The project focuses on community features that improve health outcomes such as access to safe and affordable housing, transit, places for recreation and exercise, and quality jobs.

Other members of the Westminster Invest Health Coalition team include representatives from the City of Westminster (the official grant recipient), Adams County, Tri-County Health Department, and Regis University. The group was selected from more than 180 teams from 170 communities that applied to the initiative. Cities with populations between 50,000 and 400,000 were asked to form five-member teams including representatives from the public sector, community development, and an anchor institution, preferably academic or health-related, working together to address health outcome disparities.

Over the next 18 months, Invest Health teams will take part in a vibrant learning community through which they will have access to highly skilled faculty advisors and coaches who will support their efforts toward improved health. MHC staff and representatives of the other partners participated in an Invest Health convening in Philadelphia with 50 other grantee communities June 7 through 10. The discussions focused on creating effective programs that ultimately produce a pipeline of projects that advance community health. Equity was a core aspect of the convening program.  Invest Health will hold a second nation convening this September in Denver.

The Westminster Invest Health Coalition also will engage a broad group of local stakeholders to encourage local knowledge sharing and community participation. The Westminster Invest Health Coalition’s projects will explore a range of ideas from improvements to the built environment to programs that promote healthy, active living.

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Recent articles

CCLP testifies in support of TANF grant rule change

Apr 15, 2024

CCLP's Emeritus Advisor, Chaer Robert, provided written testimony in support of the CDHS rule on the COLA increase for TANF recipients. If the rule is adopted, the cost of living increase would go into effect on July 1, 2024.

CCLP’s legislative watch for April 5, 2024

Apr 5, 2024

For the 2024 legislative session, CCLP is keeping its eye on bills focused on expanding access to justice, removing administrative burden, preserving affordable communities, advocating for progressive tax and wage policies, and reducing health care costs.

HEALTH:
HEALTH FIRST COLORADO (MEDICAID)

To maintain health and well-being, people of all ages need access to quality health care that improves outcomes and reduces costs for the community. Health First Colorado, the state's Medicaid program, is public health insurance for low-income Coloradans who qualify. The program is funded jointly by a federal-state partnership and is administered by the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing.

Benefits of the program include behavioral health, dental services, emergency care, family planning services, hospitalization, laboratory services, maternity care, newborn care, outpatient care, prescription drugs, preventive and wellness services, primary care and rehabilitative services.

In tandem with the Affordable Care Act, Colorado expanded Medicaid eligibility in 2013 - providing hundreds of thousands of adults with incomes less than 133% FPL with health insurance for the first time increasing the health and economic well-being of these Coloradans. Most of the money for newly eligible Medicaid clients has been covered by the federal government, which will gradually decrease its contribution to 90% by 2020.

Other populations eligible for Medicaid include children, who qualify with income up to 142% FPL, pregnant women with household income under 195% FPL, and adults with dependent children with household income under 68% FPL.

Some analyses indicate that Colorado's investment in Medicaid will pay off in the long run by reducing spending on programs for the uninsured.

FOOD SECURITY:
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

Hunger, though often invisible, affects everyone. It impacts people's physical, mental and emotional health and can be a culprit of obesity, depression, acute and chronic illnesses and other preventable medical conditions. Hunger also hinders education and productivity, not only stunting a child's overall well-being and academic achievement, but consuming an adult's ability to be a focused, industrious member of society. Even those who have never worried about having enough food experience the ripple effects of hunger, which seeps into our communities and erodes our state's economy.

Community resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as Food Stamps, exist to ensure that families and individuals can purchase groceries, with the average benefit being about $1.40 per meal, per person.

Funding for SNAP comes from the USDA, but the administrative costs are split between local, state, and federal governments. Yet, the lack of investment in a strong, effective SNAP program impedes Colorado's progress in becoming the healthiest state in the nation and providing a better, brighter future for all. Indeed, Colorado ranks 44th in the nation for access to SNAP and lost out on more than $261 million in grocery sales due to a large access gap in SNAP enrollment.

See the Food Assistance (SNAP) Benefit Calculator to get an estimate of your eligibility for food benefits.

FOOD SECURITY:
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)

Every child deserves the nutritional resources needed to get a healthy start on life both inside and outside the mother's womb. In particular, good nutrition and health care is critical for establishing a strong foundation that could affect a child's future physical and mental health, academic achievement and economic productivity. Likewise, the inability to access good nutrition and health care endangers the very integrity of that foundation.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition information for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

Research has shown that WIC has played an important role in improving birth outcomes and containing health care costs, resulting in longer pregnancies, fewer infant deaths, a greater likelihood of receiving prenatal care, improved infant-feeding practices, and immunization rates

Financial Security:
Colorado Works

In building a foundation for self-sufficiency, some Colorado families need some extra tools to ensure they can weather challenging financial circumstances and obtain basic resources to help them and their communities reach their potential.

Colorado Works is Colorado's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and provides public assistance to families in need. The Colorado Works program is designed to assist participants in becoming self-sufficient by strengthening the economic and social stability of families. The program provides monthly cash assistance and support services to eligible Colorado families.

The program is primarily funded by a federal block grant to the state. Counties also contribute about 20% of the cost.

EARLY LEARNING:
COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCCAP)

Child care is a must for working families. Along with ensuring that parents can work or obtain job skills training to improve their families' economic security, studies show that quality child care improves children's academic performance, career development and health outcomes.

Yet despite these proven benefits, low-income families often struggle with the cost of child care. Colorado ranks among the top 10 most expensive states in the country for center-based child care. For families with an infant, full-time enrollment at a child care center cost an average of $15,140 a year-or about three-quarters of the total income of a family of three living at the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program (CCCAP) provides child care assistance to parents who are working, searching for employment or participating in training, and parents who are enrolled in the Colorado Works Program and need child care services to support their efforts toward self-sufficiency. Most of the money for CCCAP comes from the federal Child Care and Development Fund. Each county can set their own income eligibility limit as long as it is at or above 165% of the federal poverty level and does not exceed 85% of area median income.

Unfortunately, while the need is growing, only an estimated one-quarter of all eligible children in the state are served by CCCAP. Low reimbursement rates have also resulted in fewer providers willing to accept CCCAP subsidies.