What are the top affordable housing issues and what is being done to address these in Colorado Springs? It’s a hot issue and means different things to different people. We discuss it all in this conversation with three area affordable housing leaders. 

Randy and BJ Scott are two of the founders of the Affordable Housing Collaborative, an advocacy organization that seeks to be a hub of information and lead efforts to increase affordable housing in El Paso County. Barb Van Hoy is a Policy Analyst in the Community Development Division of the City of Colorado Springs.

Randy Scott has been a corporate leader in Colorado Springs and led a capacity building and strategic planning nonprofit organization that supported the leadership and strategic initiatives of other nonprofit organizations in our community.

BJ Scott retired from her role as CEO of Peak Vista Community Health Centers a few years ago after dedicating twenty years to the health and welfare of some of our community’s most vulnerable members. 

As a policy analyst with the City's Community Development Division, Barb supports public policy and impact analysis, along with public engagement for the programs supported by entitlement grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The Community Development Division allocates about $5 million annually in federal formula block grants through the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, HOME Investment Partnerships (HOME) Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Program.  The Division is managing an additional $41 million through recent federal COVID relief and stimulus packages to prevent, prepare for and respond to coronavirus impacts.

LINKS:

Affordable Housing Collaborative Information Hub
https://affordablehousingelpasoco.org/

City of Colorado Springs Community Development Division
https://coloradosprings.gov/communitydevelopment 

City plan for Housing
https://coloradosprings.gov/homecos

Homeward Pikes Peak
www.homewardpp.org

Hope Never Ends Event for HPP
https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTIyNjMz

Homeward Pikes Peak brings you a Place for Everyone with interviews on different dimensions of substance abuse, homelessness, and housing.  For more information visit our website http://www.homewardpp.org or contact the organization.