Advocating for Affordable Homeownership

Our Advocacy efforts support policies that increase the supply of and promote broader access to safe, affordable and decent homes. From our deep understanding of housing and its central role in providing opportunities for families, we work to reform laws in a non-confrontational, nonpartisan way. Advocating for sustainable and inclusive policies and systems that promote access to decent housing is critical to achieving our vision of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.

Local

All 12 Colorado Springs mayoral candidates, plus forum moderators

Colorado Springs Mayoral Candidate Forum

On Affordable Homeownership

On Tuesday, Feb. 28, Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity and KRDO NewsRadio hosted a forum for the 12 Colorado Springs mayoral candidates to discuss their ideas and answer questions about affordable homeownership.

Update: After a runoff election May 16, Yemi Mobolade will be the new Colorado Springs mayor. He vowed to immediately start working to “fully staff the police department and end the city's homelessness, prioritize infrastructure needs, add more affordable and attainable housing, and cut red tape for new businesses" when he takes office on June 6. "Let's get to work!" he said. "I promise to be a mayor of all people."

Mill Street

Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity constructed approximately 20 homes in the Mill Street neighborhood just south of downtown Colorado Springs. We have continued our involvement with this community, especially in supporting the Mill Street Coalition's efforts for a Community Benefit Agreement. The goal is to ensure their homes remain affordable to them as the area sees an increase in economic development.

State

Proposition 123

Pikes Peak Habitat joined other Colorado Habitat affiliates in supporting Proposition 123, a ballot measure approved by Colorado voters in November 2022. This initiative allocates one-tenth of 1% of state income tax revenue to fund affordable housing. At a conservative estimate, Pikes Peak Habitat will double the number of homes we build and repair in El Paso County each year because of Prop 123.

Cost of Home

We are participating in Habitat for Humanity International's #CostOfHome campaign. This five-year campaign is finding solutions and helping create policies that will allow access to affordable homes for 10 million individuals.

A home shouldn't cost anywhere near half of your paycheck.

National

Habitat on the Hill

Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity participates in Habitat on the Hill, Habitat for Humanity's annual legislative conference.

In February 2023, Pikes Peak Habitat staff member Karla Probert, executive assistant to the ED/CEO and affiliate advocacy ambassador, joined 375 staff, homeowners and board members from more than 40 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. Together, they represented more than 1,000 Habitat affiliates, 70 national offices around the world, and several million volunteers who support our vision of a world where everyone has a decent, affordable place to live.

Probert met with congressional staffers and Colorado legislators to discuss the skyrocketing cost of homeownership in our state and possible ways to address this issue. She also infused a hopeful note into the meetings by sharing positive stories of Pikes Peak Habitat homeowners!

Learn More

Why Home Matters

Through a series of evidence briefs, Habitat is sharing research on the impact that affordable housing has on individuals and families in the U.S. and beyond.