Colorado Launches Housing Hub to Speed Affordable Housing Funding

Colorado has rolled out a major new tool designed to simplify and accelerate the way affordable housing projects receive state support. The initiative — called Housing Hub Colorado — aims to consolidate information, streamline applications, and reduce the administrative burden that developers say often slows construction timelines and pushes projects over budget.

Gov. Jared Polis introduced the statewide platform earlier this week, positioning it as a major step toward reducing barriers for builders and helping communities keep pace with rising housing demand. In announcing the effort, Polis said the new hub will “save people, and local communities, time and money when building new homes in Colorado.”

Developers can now access resources, instructions, and timelines through HousingHubColorado.com, marking the first phase of the rollout. Sections of the platform are specifically tailored to help affordable housing teams navigate tax credits and multiple funding pools that traditionally require separate, intensive applications.

Born from the Housing Consortium

The idea emerged from the newly formed Housing Consortium — a coalition of more than 100 private and public sector leaders tasked with finding solutions to Colorado’s growing housing challenge. One of the group’s top recommendations was simplifying the complicated funding process that developers face.

Affordable housing projects typically require weaving together state and federal tax credits, grants, and loans. A joint survey of project leaders who engaged with tax credit programs over the last two years found overwhelming support for centralization:

• 85% said a unified, statewide application would be the most impactful way to improve funding access.
• 65% said navigating multiple funding sources significantly delays project schedules and can jeopardize feasibility.

Maria De Cambra, executive director of the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, said the state wants to transform the developer experience. She described the vision with a bold analogy, saying, “Ultimately, we want to create the Amazon of affordable housing finance in our state and make it as easy as possible to build, with the hopes that it saves money for Coloradans.”

What Phase One Includes

As of this week, developers will find:

• A centralized website detailing tax credit processes and related funding options
• Common application spreadsheets and aligned questions across housing agencies
• A streamlined pre-application process for the Department of Local Affairs
• Removal of financial letters of interest to reduce early documentation burdens
• A unified timeline for funding opportunities so developers can plan ahead

This first phase is meant to deliver immediate efficiencies without requiring structural system overhaul. The state expects these early improvements to shave weeks or even months off the preparation process for many projects.

What’s Coming Next

Phase two — planned for next year — will introduce a full common application that consolidates all major tax-credit-related housing funding sources into a single entry point. State officials say the goal is to expand this common application to additional housing programs, including homeownership support.

The initiative aligns with broader pro-housing policy strategies embraced by leading political figures in the state. Both U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser, frontrunners in the 2026 governor’s race, have called for similar solutions. Bennet supports a single statewide application, while Weiser has pledged to issue executive orders on day one that streamline programs and align agency requirements.

Housing Urgency Remains High

Colorado’s affordability crisis continues to drive policy innovation. A new report from the State Demography Office underscores the pressure households face:

• Home prices have increased 223% since 2000
• Rents have climbed 164%
• Personal income has risen only 144%
• 2023 recorded the largest affordability gap in more than two decades

The state has made progress in reducing its housing deficit, which fell to 106,000 homes last year from a peak of 140,000 in 2019 — driven by slower population growth and more construction activity. Yet the shortage remains substantial, particularly in high-demand areas.

Political and Regulatory Push Continues

Polis has maintained a strong focus on increasing supply statewide. His landmark land-use reform law, which took effect last year, eases density and parking restrictions in many Front Range cities to promote faster development. The governor also signed an executive order enabling the state to withhold major funding streams — for transit, energy, and more — from local governments that fail to comply with new housing mandates.

Lawmakers are also pushing additional legislation to support development, including reforms to construction defect laws intended to spur condo construction and efforts to create regional building codes for factory-built homes.

• Faster project starts: By streamlining paperwork and reducing time-consuming duplication, developers may move from concept to groundbreaking more quickly.
• Lower soft costs: Administrative and legal costs associated with multi-agency applications are expected to fall.
• Clearer timelines: With coordinated schedules, developers can plan financing, design, and contractor procurement with fewer surprises.
• Greater access for smaller developers: Organizations without dedicated compliance teams often struggle the most; the hub could level the playing field.
• Potential for replication: If successful, Colorado’s approach may influence other states grappling with similar shortages.

Originally reported by Robert Tann in The Aspen Times.