I_ECR_AH_2021A 08/19/2021 08:36:57 AM Committee Summary

Representative Jackson called the committee to order and introductions were made. Representative Jackson provided an overview of the Affordable Housing Transformational Task Force, including the membership, funding amount, and general information.

The task force members made introductory remarks, including areas of interest in affordable housing.

Task force members continued to make remarks.

Jeanette Chapman, representing Legislative Council Staff, provided an overview of the task force charge.  She provided information about the task force webpage, including how the public may submit testimony and comments to the task force and subpanel.

Jacob Bornstein and Katherine Archuleta, representing Wellstone Collaborative Strategies, who are the faciliators for the task force introduced themselves and talked about the process, ground rules, and work for the day.

Mr. Bornstein introduced Megan Picard, who is the Wellstone Collaborative Strategies expert on housing.

Bob Lackner, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, provided information about the federal American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, including guidelines on spending funds received through the act.

Mr. Lackner was asked to create a document for the task force about the funding and program.

There was a discussion about the reference to disproportianately impacted populations.  Mr. Lackner agreed to research the term and provide the task force with additional information on this topic.

The task force recessed.

The facilitators summarized the themes for the current state of affordable housing in Colorado.  The facilitators will create a document outlining the committee member ideas.  Some of the themes include local government policies, such as zoning and funding, leveraging funding, urban renewal support, and federal funds.  Factory built housing was also discussed.

Additional themes discussed included pilot programs, such as vouchers, transitional housing, owner repair of housing, partnerships with local officials, and transit oriented housing.

Ms. Picard discussed the challenges in addressing housing.  The task force discused housing cost and supply, wages not keeping pace with housing costs, and construction costs.  Discussion about types of housing, including middle income and worker housing, such as housing for teachers, occurred.  The task force discussed costs related to housing, such as utilities, and matters related to zoning and parking.  There was a discussion about the ripple effects of people experiencing homelessness.  

There was a discussion about market pressures, construction costs, infrastructure, and litigation.  Discussion continued about the challenges of rehabilitating housing units and short-term rental units reducing housing stock.  The task force discussed local policies that may need adjustment, educating buyers, and community views about housing matters.

The ideal state of housing was discussed, including sustainable housing, zero emissions, and affordability.  Additionally, integration with other systems and removing obstacles to housing, as well as building wealth, were discussed.  

There was a discussion about disproportionately affected populations.

The task force recessed.

Ms. George talked about the work of the division, including the division's five offices, which are:  Homeless Initiatives, Rental Assistance, Housing Recovery, Housing Finance and Housing Stability, and Regulatory Oversight.

The representatives from DOLA provided infomation on housing costs.  

There was discussion about 2021 legislation addressing housing, the Strategic Housing Working Group report about housing in Colorado, and DOLA's plan on ending homelessness.  Discussion about homelessness ensued.  DOLA discussed leveraging funds to increase access to home down payment funds, investments in workforce housing, regulatory burdens, and infrastructure investment.

There was discussion about the effects of compression on middle and lower income households, as well as seniors.  Discussion continued about how seniors stay in their homes because they cannot afford to move, which may affect the amount of housing availabe for others.  

The task force discussed the senior homestead exemption, a report that identifies causes of homelesness, how rent costs may affect homelessness, and increasing affordability in workforce housing.  The task force continued to discuss housing with supports for homeless individuals.

There was a discussion about the driving forces behind a drop in production, including a decrease in contractor businesses, development of different housing, and housing location.  Discussion ensued about the regional differences in housing, efficiencies in construction and manufactured housing, and workforce development programs.

Jamie Gomez, Deputy Executive for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), discussed CHFA's focus on homeownership, rental housing, business lending, and community partnerships.  A copy of CHFA's presentation was provided to the task force (Attachment C).  Mr. Gomez discussed the vision of CHFA, which includes housing stability and economic prosperity for all Coloradans.  He discussed the housing continuum and middle income households and those households that are just outside qualifying for assistance.  Mr. Gomez identified investment in critical areas, including housing for households with an area median income (AMI) of 80 percent and below and an AMI of 80 to120 percent.

Mr. Gomez said that CHFA staff could gather data related to housing for the task force, including the number of units that exist in each category of the housing continuum, the regional distributuion of units, the needed housing investment in each category, and data about tax credits.

Mr. Gomez discussed how CHFA assists households with homeownership by providing down payment assistance and stated that $108 million in down payment assistance was provided for 10,483 households in 2020.  Mr. Gomez talked about how low inventory is contributing to the higher cost of housing and how CHFA is working to create a single family financing mechanism for developers in rural areas.  There was a discussion about a homeownership gap.  Information shared with the task force outline that 70 percent of white households own a home, whereas 40 percent of black households own a home.

Mr. Gomez discussed that CHFA is the direct lender to developers for rental housing, as well as constructing and rehabilitating affordable housing units and highlighted that there are not enough resources or tax credits.  Mr. Gomez talked about a focus on the development of middle income units, and that CHFA's middle income access program leveraged $182 million, using $14.9 million in funding, to create five middle income developments, or 622 units, in mountain areas.  Mr. Gomez talked about the need for smaller developments in rural communites, including capital for building.

There was a discussion about construction defects.  Mr. Gomez indicated that CHFA is not seeing townhome and condominium builds.  However, it is unclear if this is related to construction defects.  CHFA will provide data to the task force about equity and lending for Native Americans and sovereign nations.

The task force recesssed.

The task force members talked about task force guidelines and principles for the subpanel.

The facilitators will create a report for the task force detailing the facilitated discussions.

The first meeting of the subpanel is on September 1, 2021, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The subpanel may be meeting every Wednesday between now and December.

Representative Jackson discussed the next task force meeting, which will most likely occur in September.