Pikes Peak Housing Network
The Voice and Action of Housing Affordability in the Pikes Peak Region
About
Our mission is to be the voice and action entity for attainable/workforce housing in the Pikes Peak Region, unifying residents, organizations, and governmental entities who want to advocate, increase, and or maintain the supply of housing affordability.
Our role is:
- Develop partnerships to more effectively address housing affordability issues.
- Leverage existing resources and cultivate new ones.
- Act as a unifier to enable stakeholders to consider more than individual interests.
- Take a wholistic approach to housing affordability; economic, health and racial equity issues.
Why?
Of the 295,262 households in El Paso and Teller County
HOUSEHOLDS ARE EXTREMELY-LOW INCOME EARNING LESS THAN $24,720
23,285 OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS (90%) ARE COST-BURDENED
20,389 OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE PAYING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.
HOUSEHOLDS ARE VERY LOW INCOME EARNING LESS THAN $49,440
25629 OF THESE HOUSEHOLDS (79%) ARE COST-BURDENED
18,887 OF HOUSEHOLDS ARE PAYING MORE THAN HALF OF THEIR INCOME ON HOUSING.
Analysis prepared by the City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division based on U.S. Census Bureau, 2021 (click here for additional information)
the need
Housing affordability (rental and ownership) has a direct impact on the social, economic and environmental health of our community.
Socially, housing affordability has an undeserved stigma. Many people think housing affordability refers to large public housing projects from the 1950s and 1960s.
In reality, housing affordability in the Pikes Peak Region of Colorado must take many forms, integrating within neighborhoods to accommodate diverse needs and support each individual’s well-being.
Economically, the more a household has to spend on housing the less money they have to spend on other products and services that contribute to their quality of life and support the entire community.
Housing costs typically take precedence over other staples such as food, transportation and medical care. These factors lead to less community prosperity and individual wellness and increase trauma. Ultimately, this downward spiral leads to less stable housing conditions, workforce, families and neighborhoods.
From an environmental perspective, a lack of housing ability options pushes our community members to housing further from where they work. This creates congestion on our roads and increased pollution, which damages the environment that the Pikes Peak Region cherishes.
Especially in this pandemic era, the Pikes Peak Region must intentionally pursue a healthier community for all its residents through policies to ensure that people from all walks of life can find an affordable, quality place to live.
BECOME AN ADVOCATE
IN THE NEWS
Surveys shed light on housing availability
November 30, 2022-The Affordable Housing Collaborative endorsed the passage of Proposition 123, which passed by a 52.6% to 47.4% statewide margin. It dedicates 0.1% of
Colorado Springs is not Aspen: New ‘workforce housing fund
March 16, 2021– To ward off Colorado Springs becoming like Aspen or Vail — where ski industry employees often can’t afford to live in the community
Retool COS Update
Fall 2020 Newsletter Article by BJ Scott, co-founder of the Affordable Housing Collaborative and longtime health care expert across the Pikes Peak Region. Colorado Springs
Note: Pikes Peak Housing Network is previously known as the Affordable Housing Collaborative.
stay informed
Stay up to date with our newsletter for updates on local policy, opportunities to advocate for housing affordability, interviews with local housing affordability leaders, and more!