The City of Wheat Ridge was presented with $2M Community Project Fund (CPF) grant from the Department of Housing & Urban Development, that was made possible through the advocacy of Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen and Senator John Hickenlooper.
The announcement event, held last Thursday, saw a gathering of community stakeholders and featured remarks from Mayor Bud Starker, Housing Program Administrator Terrance Ware, Foothills Regional Housing CEO Lori Rosendahl, and Congresswoman Pettersen. The event highlighted the city’s commitment to preserving affordable rental housing, which is becoming increasingly endangered due to rising regional housing costs.
“Preserving affordable rental housing is not just a priority, but a fundamental commitment to ensuring that all residents of our city have a place to call home. As regional housing costs rise, it’s crucial that we take proactive steps to protect and expand affordable housing options. This grant will elevate our dedication to fostering a community where everyone, regardless of income, can have a place to call home,” said Wheat Ridge Mayor Bud Starker.
The NOAH program is part of the Affordable Housing Action Plan adopted by the Wheat Ridge City Council in January of last year. The plan addresses the affordable housing crisis in the Denver area, specifically in Wheat Ridge, and includes measures to support middle-income housing needs.
Congresswoman Pettersen, who played a key role in securing the funding, emphasized the importance of such initiatives. “We need more bold projects, like the Ives, Vance Street Lofts, and the upcoming Mar La Manor project in Wheat Ridge, to address our pressing need for affordable housing,” she said. “I remain committed to advocating for policies that will ensure everyone in Colorado can access and afford somewhere safe to call home.”
Lori Rosendahl of Foothills Regional Housing discussed the importance the $400,000 contribution toward these projects played in their success. She provided updates on each project and highlighted their contributions to providing affordable, modest residences for a significant portion of the local workforce.
“We are deeply grateful for the efforts of our elected officials and federal partners for providing us with the opportunity to implement what we hope will be a successful effort to maintain affordable housing and address the needs of our community,” Mayor Starker added.
The specifics of how this specific grant will be used is still being developed, but the city anticipates partnering with both non-profit and for-profit entities, such as Foothills Regional Housing, ColoradoGives, and Habitat for Humanity, to invest in maintaining affordable rental units throughout the community.
For more information about the City of Wheat Ridge’s Affordable Housing Strategy and Action Plan, please visit https://whatsupwheatridge.com/housing.
