Housing Forward Colorado
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Housing Forward Colorado
@housingfwdco.bsky.social
A pro-housing, climate-driven project of @sweep2001.bsky.social | housingforwardco.org
@ezraklein.bsky.social lays out the argument that we have a nationwide housing shortage on our hands. In Colorado, we're 106k homes short - and counting. What Klein doesn't mention is that we need new housing built in urban areas, where infrastructure already exists. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/o...
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:36 AM
@cocoalition.bsky.social plans to renovate the 216 studios and SRO units it already owns in the Downtown Denver YMCA building-- and build additional homes in the remaining 40k sq ft, turning the building into an affordable housing complex. Love this adaptive reuse! denverite.com/2025/12/01/d...
Downtown Denver’s YMCA to close this month, become affordable housing
The YMCA of Metropolitan Denver plans to sell the last 40,000 square feet of its downtown facility to the Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
denverite.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:29 AM
"The multigenerational living setup is a dream made possible by the Denver Housing Authority's ADU program." Learn how one family is benefitting: www.cbsnews.com/colorado/new...
Denver Housing Authority sees increase in ADU assistance program
A state law requiring cities to allow accessory dwelling units on properties with single-family homes went into effect back in June, and a Denver Housing Authority program that helps Denverites build…
www.cbsnews.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Kudos to Brighton for streamlining its accessory dwelling unit (ADU) permitting process by offering pre-approved building designs! Brighton is funding this initiative through a $38k grant from the state's new ADU Grant Program. #HousingPolicy #AccessoryDwellingUnits
www.denver7.com/news/local-n...
Brighton to streamline permitting process for ADUs by offering pre-approved plans
As recent state legislation has required more communities to allow accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, some local governments are trying to make it easier for homeowners to built one on their property.
www.denver7.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Big pro-housing win: Last week, Denver City Council voted to allow five-story single-stair buildings! This design tweak is equally safe from a fire perspective and enables us to fit more homes in a given building -- making them all more affordable! www.coloradopolitics.com/2025/11/24/d...
Denver City Council approves single-stair building ordinance
Members of the Denver City Council approved an ordinance on Monday that adds provisions allowing five-story single-stair buildings into Denver’s building and fire code amendments.  The ordinance also…
www.coloradopolitics.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:37 PM
Reposted by Housing Forward Colorado
Short answer: Yes, YIMBYs are winning the housing debate.
Are YIMBYs Winning the Housing Debate? | KQED
California Democrats pushing to build more housing by removing barriers to development have had major victories this year. Now, Governor Newsom will decide whether to sign a controversial bill that wo...
www.kqed.org
December 1, 2025 at 10:33 PM
👏 We applaud the state on launching Housing Hub Colorado: A centralized resource for accessing federal Housing Tax Credits, plus state and local gap funding, to build affordable rental housing. We hope this functions as a streamlined, one-stop-shop for accessing that money!
housinghubcolorado.com
Housing Hub Colorado – A centralized resource for affordable rental housing utilizing Housing Tax Credits and gap funding.
A centralized resource for affordable rental housing utilizing federal Housing Tax Credits and state and local gap funding
housinghubcolorado.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Big congrats to Grand Junction, Superior, Larimer County, Glenwood Springs, Fruita, Brighton, and Longmont on being the first to receive grant money from Colorado's Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Grant Program! www.cpr.org/2025/11/19/c...
Cities around the state get funds to help encourage more ADUs
The grants are part of a larger effort to expand the state’s supply of smaller, more affordable housing options.
www.cpr.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Housing Forward Colorado
Lakewood Colorado is now a leader in housing reform and legalizing more attainable and affordable homes. When will Denver and other cities across the Front range catch up?
(1/4) Lakewood just adopted one of Colorado’s most significant zoning updates: legalizing middle housing citywide and making room for the kind of compact, affordable homes the city has been missing.
November 18, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Single-stair buildings allow for more homes in the same amount of space -- a design tweak that can help us solve the housing shortage. Recognizing these benefits, Denver is going beyond the state requirements to allow more single-stair buildings: archive.is/2025.11.17-1...
archive.is
November 19, 2025 at 1:59 AM
(1/4) Lakewood just adopted one of Colorado’s most significant zoning updates: legalizing middle housing citywide and making room for the kind of compact, affordable homes the city has been missing.
November 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
"The burden of soaring housing costs is primarily driven by the fact that the United States does not have enough housing to meet demand." We agree, AND the new construction needs to be where infrastructure already exists!

New from CAP: www.americanprogress.org/article/buil...
Build, Baby, Build: A Plan To Lower Housing Costs for All
CAP’s plan would focus federal efforts on building homes and lower housing costs.
www.americanprogress.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Thanks to a recent construction boom, Denver rents are falling -- and that doesn't even include "concessions" from property owners.
Are rent prices in Denver actually falling? Here's a look behind the industry data.
With free months and other concessions, Denver’s rents may be falling faster than the industry data shows. But not everyone is seeing lower rents.
coloradosun.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Our latest blog post by HFC lead @mattfrommer.bsky.social and economist Luke Teater crunches the numbers on how housing construction affects low-income renters in #Denver: housingforwardco.org/denvers-hous...
Denver Housing Construction Benefits Low-Income Renters
Denver’s recent experience shows that when we build more housing, rents fall – and they fall the most for households that need the greatest relief.
housingforwardco.org
November 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The business community offers solutions for more housing in #Colorado: faster and easier permitting, public-private partnerships, zoning reforms, and more! tsscolorado.com/affordable-h...
Affordable housing solutions? Builders, employers offer ideas | The Sum and Substance
Public-private partnerships and fast-track permitting are underway in some areas. Officials believe expansion could create more housing.
tsscolorado.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:20 PM
In the last 2 years, average apartment rents in #Denver have fallen 5.9% -- and 10% for the most affordable segment of the market. The data show that when we build more housing, rents fall the most for households that need the greatest relief. Learn more: housingforwardco.org/denvers-hous...
Denver Housing Construction Benefits Low-Income Renters
Denver’s recent experience shows that when we build more housing, rents fall – and they fall the most for households that need the greatest relief.
housingforwardco.org
November 15, 2025 at 3:37 PM
City and state leaders who want to improve #HousingAffordability in their communities should take heed: We need sustained housing production to make #Colorado affordable in a permanent way. housingforwardco.org/denvers-hous...
Denver Housing Construction Benefits Low-Income Renters
Denver’s recent experience shows that when we build more housing, rents fall – and they fall the most for households that need the greatest relief.
housingforwardco.org
November 15, 2025 at 4:49 AM
New from @strongtowns.org: Small, precise zoning code text revisions that can unlock big opportunities for communities facing housing shortages. www.strongtowns.org/journal/2025...
How Small Zoning Code Changes Can Unlock Big Opportunity | Strong Towns
Small, precise zoning code text revisions can be a game-changer for communities facing housing shortages.
www.strongtowns.org
November 15, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Reposted by Housing Forward Colorado
Strong coalitions across ideological divides make change possible. And, in that regard, “the YIMBY movement is showing it can be done.”
YIMBYtown 2025 Puts National Momentum for More Housing on Full Display » The Urbanist
# The sixth YIMBYtown conference, held earlier this month in Connecticut, represented a major change from its first iteration in 2016. The factors that have led to YIMBYtown going mainstream are…
www.theurbanist.org
November 12, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Housing Forward Colorado
We should build a lot more of the safest types of homes.
Modern Multifamily Buildings Provide the Most Fire Protection
A large body of research has demonstrated that apartment buildings and other types of multifamily housing can provide many benefits to a community, especially when built in high-demand areas where…
www.pew.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Reposted by Housing Forward Colorado
The narrow concerns of local NIMBYs are a “disaster for housing in the US.”

Leaders — especially at the state level — should stand up to naysayers and do what’s right.
Local Resistance Exacerbates US Housing Shortage - Davis Vanguard
The fractured nature of American government has created a major obstacle to solving the nation's housing crisis, but the ROAD to Housing Act, which introduces a framework for federal incentives for…
davisvanguard.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Rocky Mt Land Use Institute and @ternerhousing.bsky.social study finds that eliminating #parking mandates will likely boost housing construction in #Denver by about 12.5%, or ~460 more homes per year. A high-impact result for a relatively simple policy change! theconversation.com/denver-study...
Denver study shows removing parking requirements results in more affordable housing being built
Structured parking can cost as much as $50,000 per space, making housing more expensive to build and for those living there.
theconversation.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Which housing measures passed in this year's elections? Not comprehensive, but a solid list: shelterforce.org/2025/11/07/w...
Which Housing Measures Passed in This Election?
Multiple states and localities brought affordable housing measures to the polls in 2025, to varying results.
shelterforce.org
November 13, 2025 at 4:36 AM
Last Tuesday, pro-housing advocates celebrated numerous victories in local elections across Colorado. The message is clear: Pro-housing platforms win elections. Read our press release for details: housingforwardco.org/housing-news...
Colorado pro-housing advocates win big in 2025 local elections
Voters across the Front Range chose pro-housing city council members and defeated anti-growth ballot measures.
housingforwardco.org
November 12, 2025 at 10:51 PM
A look at Colorado's population growth vs homebuilding rates -- and how Gov. Polis is working to address the gap: www.realtor.com/advice/hyper...
Colorado is Struggling in Affordability and Homebuilding: Can Governor Polis Build the Momentum?
Colorado’s housing crunch is tightening as demand outpaces supply and affordability slips further out of reach.
www.realtor.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:30 AM