ADVOCACY

Housing Colorado's 2010 Legislative Priorities

PRIORITY 1: Enhance and expand opportunities to provide affordable housing in new developments, redevelopment areas and near transportation centers.
• Provide local governments with the flexibility to negotiate developer incentives for rental housing
• Promote the inclusion of affordable housing in transit oriented developments (RTD amendment to allow joint residential development)
• Specifically authorize affordable housing as an eligible use for TIF funding (Amendment to larger negotiated bill on Urban Renewal)
• Ensure that deed restrictions stay with a property when ownership is transferred
• Support efforts to incorporate land use and housing into transportation planning

PRIORITY 2: Secure adequate, reliable funding dedicated to providing and promoting the economic benefits of affordable housing in Colorado, while preserving current resources.
• Support efforts at the national level to secure up to $14.7 million in new funding for rental housing in Colorado through passage of the National Housing Trust Fund and promote effective implementation in Colorado (Jobs for Main Street Act, 2010)
• Protect the Division of Housing Grants Line Item (Long Bill)
• Secure state revenues sufficient to prevent the cutting of essential programs and services by working to address current and proposed budget and constitutional constraints (Oppose Prop 101 and Amendments 60 and 61; policy positions of the Colorado Reform Roundtable)

PRIORITY 3: Promote stability in housing through foreclosure prevention and protections for responsible renters
• Clarify landlord/tenant relations (Bill to be introduced by Sen. President Shaffer)
• Modify foreclosure procedures (Clean-up of mortgage deferment bill; expedited foreclosure process for abandoned properties)

PRIORITY 4: Make housing more energy efficient and affordable through green building practices and energy assistance.
• Maximize funding for energy assistance for families and vulnerable individuals and the developments that house them (Funding from Severance Tax operating account; weatherization policies for multi-family developments)

PRIORITY 5: Support a range of human services, which when tied to stable housing, enables individuals and families to be as self-sufficient as possible.
• Payday loan reform (legislation pending)

Get your community behind you!
If you want to increase your community’s awareness of the importance of what you do and why you do it, come Join our Action Network! Housing Colorado has tools that can help you develop your relationships with state and local leaders. For more information contact Sarah Harman.

Housing Colorado works to shift the public perception and the policy environment while providing tools and knowledge to help meet the challenges of affordable housing in Colorado. Through the combined efforts of our growing network of 3,500 professionals, we can generate a wider number and range of affordable housing opportunities. We come from all over the state, from many different walks of life, and with different expertise. Please join us in opening doors all over Colorado.