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For Immediate Release

March 10, 2020

Contact:

Cathy Alderman 

Vice President of Communications and Public Policy 

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless 

303-312-9638 

calderman@coloradocoalition.org

DURING AN ELECTION YEAR, IT’S TIME TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, 

ESPECIALLY FOR COST-BURDENED COLORADANS

The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, finds a national shortage of nearly seven million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income (ELI) renter households, those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income. There are just 36 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 ELI renter households nationwide, down from 37 affordable and available rentals in 2019. Seventy-two percent of the poorest renter households are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than half of their incomes on housing with little left over for other basic necessities.

In Colorado, there are 165,567 extremely low income households but only 50,627 affordable rental homes available to them. The result is a deficit of 114,940 affordable and available housing units for extremely low income households throughout the state.  There are therefore 30 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 households with extremely low incomes. Conversely, for people living at 100% of the area median income (or with a moderate household income), there is a surplus of 103 units available per 100 needed, showing that the greatest need for units are for those who are least likely to be able to afford them.

Every year, The Gap reports on the severe shortage of affordable rental homes available to financially vulnerable families and individuals. In the midst of a presidential election year, Colorado voters –and voters all over the country—are demanding solutions.  Now more than ever, candidates for public office must recognize the severe shortage of affordable homes and tell us their plans to combat the crisis. The nation's and Colorado’s lack of affordable housing is solvable - as a nation, we have the resources. We lack only the political will to fund the solutions at the scale needed.

That's why Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and NLIHC are joining forces on Our Homes, Our Votes: 2020, a non-partisan voter and candidate engagement project. We are registering, educating, and mobilizing more low-income renters to vote, and we are urging all candidates for public office—presidential, state, and local—to tell voters what actions they will to take to end homelessness and housing poverty in America.

For additional information, visit: https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/Gap-Report_2020.pdf

About Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for people experiencing and at-risk of homelessness homeless throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, the organization has earned state and national recognition for its integrated healthcare, housing, and service programs. The Coalition’s comprehensive approach addresses the causes of homelessness, as well as the consequences, offering critical assistance to over 20,000 individuals and families each year. Learn more at www.coloradocoalition.org. 

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Press Release: During an Election Year, It's time to Address the Affordable Housing Shortage, Especially for Cost-Burdened Coloradans

For Immediate Release

March 10, 2020

Contact:

Cathy Alderman 

Vice President of Communications and Public Policy 

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless 

303-312-9638 

calderman@coloradocoalition.org

DURING AN ELECTION YEAR, IT’S TIME TO ADDRESS THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING SHORTAGE, 

ESPECIALLY FOR COST-BURDENED COLORADANS

The Gap: A Shortage of Affordable Homes, a new report released today by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) and Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, finds a national shortage of nearly seven million affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income (ELI) renter households, those with incomes at or below the poverty level or 30% of their area median income. There are just 36 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 ELI renter households nationwide, down from 37 affordable and available rentals in 2019. Seventy-two percent of the poorest renter households are severely housing cost-burdened, spending more than half of their incomes on housing with little left over for other basic necessities.

In Colorado, there are 165,567 extremely low income households but only 50,627 affordable rental homes available to them. The result is a deficit of 114,940 affordable and available housing units for extremely low income households throughout the state.  There are therefore 30 affordable and available rental homes for every 100 households with extremely low incomes. Conversely, for people living at 100% of the area median income (or with a moderate household income), there is a surplus of 103 units available per 100 needed, showing that the greatest need for units are for those who are least likely to be able to afford them.

Every year, The Gap reports on the severe shortage of affordable rental homes available to financially vulnerable families and individuals. In the midst of a presidential election year, Colorado voters –and voters all over the country—are demanding solutions.  Now more than ever, candidates for public office must recognize the severe shortage of affordable homes and tell us their plans to combat the crisis. The nation's and Colorado’s lack of affordable housing is solvable - as a nation, we have the resources. We lack only the political will to fund the solutions at the scale needed.

That's why Colorado Coalition for the Homeless and NLIHC are joining forces on Our Homes, Our Votes: 2020, a non-partisan voter and candidate engagement project. We are registering, educating, and mobilizing more low-income renters to vote, and we are urging all candidates for public office—presidential, state, and local—to tell voters what actions they will to take to end homelessness and housing poverty in America.

For additional information, visit: https://reports.nlihc.org/sites/default/files/gap/Gap-Report_2020.pdf

About Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

The mission of the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless is to work collaboratively toward the prevention of homelessness and the creation of lasting solutions for people experiencing and at-risk of homelessness homeless throughout Colorado. The Coalition advocates for and provides a continuum of housing and a variety of services to improve the health, well-being and stability of those it serves. Since its founding more than 30 years ago, the organization has earned state and national recognition for its integrated healthcare, housing, and service programs. The Coalition’s comprehensive approach addresses the causes of homelessness, as well as the consequences, offering critical assistance to over 20,000 individuals and families each year. Learn more at www.coloradocoalition.org. 

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