Affordable Housing Coverage in Colorado and Local News
May 2023
Longmont Leader, May 15, 2023. “Continuing to prepare for, prevent, & respond to wildfires: Governor Polis signs bills into law.” Includes HB23-1254, Habitability of Residential Premises, sponsored by Representatives Kyle Brown and Javier Mabrey and Senator Lisa Cutter, to ensure rental properties that face environmental disaster are returned to safe conditions for tenants. https://www.longmontleader.com/news-releases/continuing-to-prepare-for-prevent-respond-to-wildfires-governor-polis-signs-bills-into-law-6994262
April 2023
Colorado House Democrats. “Housing Protections for Victims of Wildfires and Natural Disasters Advance in House.” (Press release on HB23-1266 and HB23-1254, April 11, 2023, which includes a link to ECHO’s renter survey report.) https://www.cohousedems.com/news/housing-protections-for-victims-of-wildfires-and-natural-disasters-advance-in-house
March 2023
The Southwest Energy Efficiency Project (SWEEP), March 2023 with ongoing updates. “Colorado’s Historic “More Housing Now” Bill, Explained.” Matt Frommer and Grace Hood track the content of Colorado Senate Bill 23-213. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZRSIWrmI4kIBXJWfFlT0udgB7vXS_2oc/view
Colorado Politics, 3/17/2023 “For Climate’s Sake, Change the Status Quo on Land Use.” Opinion by ECHO Executive Director Annmarie Jensen in response to February 25 feature article, Recreating Main Street, about actions in Erie. Read it at https://www.coloradopolitics.com/opinion/for-climate-s-sake-change-status-quo-on-land-use-opinion/article_42109c54-c45e-11ed-b51d-cb3511259612.html
January 2023
The White House, 1/25/2023 “Biden-Harris Administration Announces New Actions to Protect Renters and Promote Rental Affordability.” The White House announced new actions to increase fairness in the rental market and further the principles of fair housing as well as sharing a Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights. Learn more at https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/01/25/fact-sheet-biden-harris-administration-announces-new-actions-to-protect-renters-and-promote-rental-affordability/
CBS Colorado, 1/13/2023 “Find out what happened to people in rental units after the Marshall Fire.” Alan Gionet on-scene story including comments from ECHO Executive Director Annmarie Jensen. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/what-happened-people-rental-units-one-year-after-marshall-fire/
December 2022
Boulder Daily Camera, 12/21/22 “Lafayette commits to affordable housing loan for mobile home park.” Link: https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/12/21/lafayette-commits-to-affordable-housing-loan-for-mobile-home-park/
The Colorado Sun 12/27/2022 “One year after the Marshall fire, housing advocates call for policy changes to help Colorado’s renters who survive a natural disaster” https://coloradosun.com/2022/12/27/marshall-fire-renters-2/
Prairie Mountain Media 12/18/2022 “Remediation exposes gaps in rental laws” - Text reporting: t.ly/STPj
LongmontLeader.com 12/4/2022 “Report details struggles of renters following Marshall Fire” - Text and Audio reporting: https://www.longmontleader.com/local-news/report-details-struggles-of-renters-following-marshall-fire-6191687
November 2022
ECHO seeks legislative support for future disaster response, based on insights from ECHO’s survey of Marshall Fire survivors and Legal Clinic for those who had problems with insurers, landlords and others in obtaining help. Read the Press Release.
August 2022
Read ECHO Executive Director Annmarie Jensen’s Op-Ed in the Daily Camera regarding Our Community’s Will to address Affordable Housing 08/23/2022
June 2022
New Money for Housing, New Protections for Mobile Home Park Residents, New Dollars for Eviction Legal Defense
The Colorado legislature appropriated $400 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars for affordable housing. Enterprise Community Partners in Denver did a great summary of all the new money available for housing. Read the summary here: https://www.enterprisecommunity.org/blog/colorados-2022-legislative-session-reshapes-affordable-housing-landscape
The legislature also added an additional $500,000 for eviction legal defense, bringing the total up to $1.1 million. The legislature created more protections for the rights of mobile home owners, but was unable to pass rent-stabilization for lot rents—which can go up as high as 50%—because of threat of a veto by Governor Polis. Information about these bills is provided by the Colorado Poverty Law Project; read it here: https://www.copovertylawproject.org/post/2022-legislative-summary
May 2022
ECHO Board Member Jonathan Singer Named to Boulder Chamber Senior Staff
(Via BizWest, May 19, 2022) Jonathan Singer has joined the Boulder Chamber as the senior director of policy programs.
Singer has spent the past 25 years in community work in the Boulder and northern metropolitan region; the chamber described him as “a staunch advocate for business success and a vibrant economy throughout his years in public service, recognizing their underpinning to fully healthy communities.”
In his new role, he’ll serve as the liaison to government bodies in addressing individual business needs and telling the story about the pivotal role that a strong economy has in advancing Boulder’s environmental stewardship, social equity and quality of life goals. Read more: t.ly/_sJ2
Friends Mark ECHO’s First Anniversary
May 1, 2022 marked the “first birthday” of the East County Housing Opportunity Coalition (ECHO), and 100 community members gathered to mark the occasion. Executive Director Annmarie Jensen and the ECHO Board of Directors welcomed guests from Longmont, Erie, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, and unincorporated Boulder County to Left Hand Brewery in Longmont for a lively mix of family fun and recognition. Policy-makers concerned with creating more affordable housing participated, too, including Erie Mayor Justin Brooks, Longmont City Council Member Shiquita Yarbrough, and Lafayette City Council Member Tim Barnes.
ECHO celebrated the achievements of the year.
We reviewed progress toward our mission and ECHO’s impact on affordable housing advocacy.
We recognized the efforts of the volunteer board in formalizing the organization and beginning the Strategic Planning process.
We acknowledged the outstanding efforts of two affordable housing advocates.
State Rep. Edie Hooton received the Bullhorn Award for her advocacy on behalf of mobile home park residents.
Hermine Ngomire was named Community Activist of the Year for her advocacy of affordable housing policy in Longmont.
ECHO also thanked all the small businesses in East Boulder County that contributed items for the Friendraiser Silent Auction. Please join us in thanking them - see the list of contributors here.
March 2022
ECHO Calls on Policymakers to Prioritize Renters’ Rights
On March 27, 2022, a letter to the editor from ECHO Executive Director Annmarie Jensen was published in the Boulder Daily Camera. “The situation for renters in Boulder County has gotten incredibly dire after the Marshall Fire. In conversations with renters several themes are emerging, and as we live in a representative democracy, I am hoping some elected officials can hear these themes and do something about it. For those that are seeking a new place to live the price increases have been extreme in the fire area and beyond. One person I know who lives in an apartment complex happened to be on his complex’s website on the day of the fire and watched them add $600 to the price of rents, knowing there would be a shortage.” Read the full letter here: https://www.dailycamera.com/2022/03/27/annmarie-jensen/
October 2021
Longmont City Council Candidates’ Forum on Sustainability Issues
This October 13 event was co-sponsored by Sustainable Resilient Longmont, Eco-Cycle, and ECHO. “This is by far the most interesting forum - and best opportunity to address the hardest issues,” said City Council Candidate Marcia Martin. Read coverage of the forum here: https://www.timescall.com/2021/10/13/longmont-city-council-candidates-appear-willing-to-consider-a-composting-requirement/
ECHO Asks 2021 City Council Candidates to Share Views on Affordable Housing
ECHO asked City Council candidates in the Boulder County cities of Lafayette, Louisville, and Longmont to respond to a questionnaire on Affordable Housing issues. Read more about the survey and how the candidates responded here.
July 2021
Together Colorado & East County Housing Opportunity Coalition Announce Transformational Recommendations for Affordable Housing with ARPA Funds
Read the press release from July 31, 2021, and access the link to download the full report of recommendations.
June 2021
Mobile Home Park Residents at Sans Souci, South of Boulder, Become Homeowners
The change was possible thanks to new Colorado law and help securing a loan. ECHO was instrumental in making the arrangements. A new Colorado law gave them an opportunity to buy their mobile home park. They took it. https://coloradosun.com/2021/06/23/mobile-home-parks-resident-owned-sans-souci/
January 2021
A Public Affair: Panel Discusses Affordable Housing
On Monday, January 25, 2021, ECHO Founder Annmarie Jensen was featured on A Public Affair with the Community Foundation Boulder County. The other guest was Shay Castle, Editor of the Boulder Beat (Covering Boulder City Council). Listen to the audio-recording here: http://media.commfound.org/APublicAffair_2021-01-25.mp3.