By Tamara Foglio
Habitat for Humanity of Colorado (HFHC), the affiliate support organization for the 25 affiliates serving 45 communities statewide, is proud to announce that Representative Shannon Bird and Senator Don Coram are the first recipients of the organization’s Legislators of the Year Award. HFHC identified these two Colorado policymakers for their commitment and support to ensure that all Coloradans can afford the cost of a home. They both have fought for affordable homeownership through their public policy work during the 2020 legislative session and throughout the year.
“The housing crisis is not a Front Range issue, a resort issue or rural issue; it is impacting our entire state,” explains Karen Kallenberg, HFHC Executive Director. “This is why it is great to have policy partners from across Colorado.”
“The median home value of a single-family home in Colorado is $418,363. To purchase a home, a household would need to earn a minimum of $100,000. In so many communities around the state -teachers, firefighters, nurses, restaurant managers, city workers — the people who help make our communities safe, healthy, and thriving — cannot afford a decent place to live. If the workforce doesn’t have stability, neither do those communities. Representative Bird and Senator Coram are committed to our Colorado communities and finding solutions to help families put down roots where they are employed. Homeownership helps individuals be a part of the community they are serving while at the same time helping employers retain their workforce.”
Through their work in affordable homeownership, Representative Bird and Senator Coram are doing more than putting a roof over a family’s head; through prioritizing a continuum of affordable housing they are creating social and economic mobility for families across the state. Research shows that homeownership is currently the largest single source of wealth building.
“As our country and state look at advancing racial equity, we need more policy makers like Representative Bird and Senator Coram to prioritize affordable homeownership to help decrease the wealth gap between non-Hispanic whites and communities of color,” says Kallenberg.
Now more than ever, a home is an important sanctuary for families across our state to feel safe, healthy and secure. Habitat for Humanity has built, rehabbed and repaired over 3,000 homes across Colorado partnering with families making between 30-80% of the area median income.
“Habitat for Humanity of Colorado is honored to recognize Representative Bird and Senator Coram,” says Kallenberg. “They have championed affordable homeownership through their leadership, prioritization of resources and willingness to collaborate on solutions.”
2020 Legislators of the Year honorees include:
Representative Shannon Bird was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2019. She represents House District 35, which is in Adams County. Prior to election, she served on the Westminster City Council where she actively supported affordable housing.
Habitat for Humanity of Colorado presented Representative Shannon Bird with this award on Friday, October 9 on the Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver construction site at Swansea Homes Community (4394 N Columbine, Denver, CO).
Senator Don Coram represents Senate District 6 which covers Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel counties. Senator Coram serves on the Senate Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee; the Senate Local Government Committee and the Water Resources Review Committee. He is a strong voice for rural Colorado.
Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans Executive Director, Erica Madison will be presenting Senator Don Coram with this award on Friday, October 16 at noon during the Montrose County Republican Women meeting taking place at Hampton Inn in Montrose.
About Habitat for Humanity of Colorado: Habitat for Humanity builds safe, decent affordable homes to for low income families who purchase the home with an affordable mortgage. Twenty-five Habitat for Humanity affiliates across Colorado are building in 45 communities, and to date have built over 3000 homes in partnership with families who would otherwise be unable to obtain the security, stability, and hope that homeownership can provide.
For more information about Habitat for Humanity, please visit www.habitatcolorado.org.