Regional Housing Plan
Created in collaboration with nine jurisdictions in Boulder County, our regional housing plan Expanding Access to Diverse Housing for Our Community recognizes that many interconnected issues and opportunities are important elements of the discussion around solutions to the housing affordability crisis we face. Therefore, local jurisdictions and essential partners in the private sector, housing authorities, and non-profit organizations will collaborate to develop and preserve diverse and affordable housing options.
In addition to helping advance a region-wide goal, every city and town has the opportunity to help inform the solutions advanced by this plan and then use them to meet their own goals. Addressing Boulder County’s housing needs has required and will continue to require numerous community collaborations and partnerships.
Regional Housing Plan
Created in collaboration with nine jurisdictions in Boulder County, our regional housing plan Expanding Access to Diverse Housing for Our Community recognizes that many interconnected issues and opportunities are important elements of the discussion around solutions to the housing affordability crisis we face. Therefore, local jurisdictions and essential partners in the private sector, housing authorities, and non-profit organizations will collaborate to develop and preserve diverse and affordable housing options.
In addition to helping advance a region-wide goal, every city and town has the opportunity to help inform the solutions advanced by this plan and then use them to meet their own goals. Addressing Boulder County’s housing needs has required and will continue to require numerous community collaborations and partnerships.
Regional Strategy
Grounded in a history of partnership and commitment to address the housing needs of our communities, the plan asserts the following goals and strategies:
Establish a Regional Goal of securing 12% of the housing inventory as permanently affordable to low- and middle-income households by 2035. Both rental and ownership opportunities are included in this goal.
Bolster Financial Resources to create the fiscal supports necessary to leverage other sources of funds to achieve the goals of the Strategy.
Secure Land and Development/Redevelopment Opportunities to create diverse housing options.
Preserve Affordability through purchasing and deed-restricting currently affordable housing.
Consider Regulatory Processes across all jurisdictions to help facilitate the creation and preservation of diverse housing options.
Regional Strategy
Grounded in a history of partnership and commitment to address the housing needs of our communities, the plan asserts the following goals and strategies:
Establish a Regional Goal of securing 12% of the housing inventory as permanently affordable to low- and middle-income households by 2035. Both rental and ownership opportunities are included in this goal.
Bolster Financial Resources to create the fiscal supports necessary to leverage other sources of funds to achieve the goals of the Strategy.
Secure Land and Development/Redevelopment Opportunities to create diverse housing options.
Preserve Affordability through purchasing and deed-restricting currently affordable housing.
Consider Regulatory Processes across all jurisdictions to help facilitate the creation and preservation of diverse housing options.
Regional Housing Strategy
The goal of Home Wanted is to secure a total of 18,000 homes as affordable to a diverse mix of low and middle-income households by 2035. This goal is based on the population and land use projections from each community and acknowledges that more than 6,000 homes are already affordable for the long term.
The need for affordable homes exists for people of all ages, life stages, and family sizes across generations. The 12 percent regional goal balances the demand for more homes with the need to increase staffing and other resources in step development and acquisition opportunities across the county.
Goals for Acquisition and New Construction
Existing resources can create or acquire about 300 new affordable homes per year in Boulder County. Over the past five years, production and acquisition of affordable homes have ranged from about 200 to 500 homes per year in the region. New affordable homes built have represented 20 to 30 percent of all residential permits.
A core component of achieving the 12 percent goal will be significant investment in acquiring existing properties that would otherwise be lost to market escalation. Holding new construction constant at 300 affordable homes per year, the acquisition of 500 existing homes each year is needed to reach our goal.
