Senate passes HOME Act, eliminating barriers to building more housing
HB26-1001 will remove barriers to building housing on centrally-located, underutilized land
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Denver, CO – Today, on a 22-13 vote, the Colorado Senate passed the HOME Act (HB26-1001), removing red tape that makes it harder for homes to be built in the communities where people live and work. The HOME Act passed the Colorado House 34-24 last month and will now head back to the House for concurrence and then on to the Governor for signature.
Public schools and universities and non-profits with a history of building affordable housing want to use their underutilized land to build more housing that people can afford in their communities. HB26-1001 is an important step toward addressing Colorado’s housing shortage and affordability crisis by opening up more housing opportunities in the heart of our communities and creating predictable and efficient review processes that are, on average, 28% faster for the entities covered by the bill.
“Access to affordable and secure housing is the reason I am able to serve my community at all,” said Senator Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, who sponsored the bill. “We have a housing crisis in this state, and Coloradans who work multiple jobs to make ends meet still can’t afford to buy a home and plant roots in their communities. This bill would allow community organizations more flexibility to give their neighbors that gift of stable, affordable housing.”
“Too many families in Colorado Springs are afraid of being priced out of the place they call home,” said Senator Tony Exum, Sr., D-Colorado Springs, who sponsored the bill. “If we’re serious about solving the housing crisis in Colorado, we need to open up every available option to get our neighbors secure and affordable housing. The HOME Act would help our communities build the housing that is so desperately needed in our state.”
A number of community groups applauded the passage of the HOME Act:
“The HOME Act would open up more housing opportunities in the heart of our communities and lower housing costs for hardworking Coloradans. It removes red tape that makes it harder for homes to be built in the communities where people live and work,” said Laura “Pinky” Reinsch, Executive Director of Centennial State Prosperity. “We need simple and effective solutions that will make housing more affordable for working people, retirees, and first-time home buyers. The HOME Act enables more and different types of homes to be built that meet the different needs of hardworking Coloradans.”
“HB1001 will reduce the time it takes for nonprofit housing developers to get a project on their owned property off the ground and it will incentivize more development of affordable housing to those households struggling the most with the housing market. Many nonprofits that own underutilized or unused land or property are already serving the very populations of people that have the most barriers in the housing market including people experiencing homelessness, seniors, veterans, and people living with disabling conditions. Incentivizing them to use this land to serve their mission will help to create the housing that is so desperately needed for these populations,” said Cathy Alderman, Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless.
“Projects like those enabled by the HOME Act need to be legal everywhere in the state. We have some great examples in Longmont, but the housing market doesn’t stop at city limits and neither can the work to expand the options for adding to Colorado’s housing supply,” said Shakeel Dalal, co-founder of Launch Longmont Housing.
“Colorado’s housing crisis isn’t abstract; it’s the teacher driving 90 minutes each way because she can’t afford to live near her school. It’s the nurse and the firefighter who serve our communities, but can’t build a life in them. The status quo is not acceptable. Colorado has the second-worst housing shortage in the country. We need to build 34,000 homes every year just to keep pace, and we’re falling further behind. The result of past inaction is clear. Over 50 percent of Colorado renters are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income, and a quarter of renters are severely cost-burdened, spending more than 50% of their income,” said Kevin Matthews, YIMBY Denver Steering Committee. ”The HOME Act is the type of bold action these problems demand. It cuts through unnecessary barriers and empowers public schools, universities, transit agencies, public housing authorities, and nonprofits with a track record of building affordable housing to put their underutilized land to work for the people who need it most. No new bureaucracy. No waiting for someone else to act. Just common-sense tools for organizations that already own land and want to be part of the solution.”
“This is a great win not just for affordable housing, but for taking real steps towards addressing the ever-increasing rates of homelessness across the state. Homelessness is ultimately a housing problem, so it’s wonderful to see the State of Colorado take real, concrete steps towards growing the supply of affordable housing to meet the demand,” said Jessica Ehinger, CEO of Colorado Village Collaborative.
“This bill simply aligns development policy with what recent surveys tell us 90% of Coloradans say they want: more affordable housing in the communities they call home. It’s hard to build your way out of this crisis–but it’s impossible if you don’t let us try,” said Jonathan Cappelli, Executive Director, Neighborhood Development Collaborative.
“The HOME Act is a big win for housing affordability because it will turn underutilized land into much-needed homes and give more people access to walkable, transit-rich neighborhoods. By streamlining approvals for affordable housing and focusing growth in existing communities instead of pushing sprawl onto natural and agricultural lands, this bill will cut pollution, save households money, and move us toward a more sustainable and resilient Colorado,” said Matt Frommer, Transportation & Land Use Policy Manager at South West Energy Efficiency Project.
“With the HOME Act passing the Senate, AARP Colorado is glad to see this commonsense solution moving forward. Colorado’s housing crisis and the sheer expense of aging-in-place are crushing older adults. By unlocking underutilized land, the HOME Act boosts supply, affordability, and will give Coloradans 50-plus more options to live in the communities they love to call home,” said Sara Schueneman, State Director, AARP Colorado.
“AARP supports this bill because housing affordability and stability are core to healthy aging. Older adults are being priced out of longtime neighborhoods, and many want realistic options to downsize or live near transit, healthcare, and family. HB26-1001 helps expand smaller, accessible homes in walkable areas—supporting aging in place, reducing isolation, and easing the pressure on fixed incomes,” Jay Reinig, AARP CO Advocacy Volunteer.
“The institutions this bill seeks to empower: schools, transit agencies, nonprofits, are all deeply rooted in Place. These organizations view providing homes and support in our communities as an important extension of their missions and values. We applaud our state legislators for removing this barrier to allowing this vital work to continue and flourish,” said Kate Conley, YIMBY Fort Collins.
“The HOME Act sponsors have done their homework to listen, to understand, and to refine the bill into something that can be transformational for delivering affordable housing. At the same time, they have ensured that it is a safe, reasonable and rational way to do so,” said Aaron Miripol, Urban Land Conservancy President and CEO. “It would be game-changing to see House Bill 1001 eliminate the cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming land use and zoning processes that take place at the local level. Our state still faces a shortage of over 100,000 affordable homes; the HOME Act is a critical tool to get more done, faster, to meet our housing needs statewide.
Centennial State Prosperity compiled recent data from the Census Bureau and other sources to show Colorado’s continuing housing crisis. Read the report at this link.