Poll reveals 89% fear Colorado’s housing affordability crisis

The Colorado Well being Basis Pulse Ballot reveals that 89% of respondents price housing affordability as an excessive or very major problem.

The outcomes mark a major improve from earlier years and present issues about housing affordability and the price of dwelling, affecting healthcare protection and monetary stability selections.

A bipartisan workforce of researchers collected responses from 2,404 Coloradans between Might 20 and June 24, revealing that these points have been once more on the prime of most Coloradans’ issues.

The share of respondents who see housing affordability as an “excessive” or “very severe” downside climbed from 67% in 2020 to 89% in 2024, with 60% now saying housing is an “extraordinarily severe” downside, up from 37% in 2020 and 51% final yr.

“This yr’s Pulse Ballot outcomes don’t simply present that Coloradans understand housing points as an issue — they see them as a disaster,” stated Dave Metz, Democratic pollster for Pulse and president of FM3 Analysis.

“Practically 9 in 10 price the price of housing as a ‘very severe’ downside — greater than say the identical for every other subject, even the price of dwelling total.”

Many Coloradans doubt they will personal properties and concern their kids received’t be capable of afford to dwell in Colorado long run.

“With housing affordability as soon as once more on the prime of Coloradans’ issues in 2024, we’re clearly listening to that individuals are not but feeling reduction from all of the state and native coverage adjustments which have sought to handle this important subject in our state,” stated Kyle Rojas Legleiter, Colorado Well being Basis senior coverage director.

“The rise of concern through the years is stark, and so too are the impacts of housing prices on Coloradans’ well being and well-being. The share of people who find themselves extraordinarily or severely involved about housing and value of dwelling in 2020 was greater than 20% lower than the place we stand now.”

Work so as to add extra inexpensive housing

Colorado officers introduced practically $40 million in preliminary awards final week to construct over 600 backed housing models.

The funding is from a brand new statewide inexpensive housing program. The developments might be in Denver, Lone Tree, Fort Collins, Montrose, and Craig.

The initiatives will embrace lease protections to make sure affordability for decrease — and middle-income tenants. This funding is a part of Proposition 123, a voter-approved inexpensive housing fund anticipated to distribute round $300 million yearly.