 Three weekday drop-off sites will be open this year through December 7 The leaves changing colors are a pretty sight, but when they fall, make sure they don’t end up in the trash! Give those leaves a second life through Denver’s LeafDrop program, which will turn those fallen leaves into compost. Starting Monday, October 1, three free weekday drop-off sites will be open to Denver residents through Friday, December 7. The leaves collected through this program will be turned into a high-quality compost, which will be made available for residents to purchase in May. Learn more here! Weekday Drop-Off Sites Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 2:00pm
Another way to be environmentally friendly, break the plastic bag habit and use paper bags when raking fallen leaves instead – paper bags can also be composted! Denver Recycles, Denver Parks & Recreation’s Be A Smart Ash program, and Ace Hardware are teaming up to give away 50,000 paper leaf bags this year! Beginning Monday, Denver residents can print or download a coupon for a free 5-pack of paper leaf bags at www.denvergov.org/leafdrop. The coupon can be redeemed at participating Denver area Ace Hardware stores. Help us manage the LeafDrop program by following these guidelines:
Weekend LeafDrop sites will be coming soon in November! More details on dates and locations can be found at www.denvergov.org/leafdrop.   Monday night, Denver City Council voted to approve major changes to the Denver Zoning Code that will curb the development of "slot homes" throughout Denver. Slot homes are boxy, multi-unit residential buildings arranged perpendicular to the street that often feel disconnected and out of place in many Denver neighborhoods.
The zoning changes approved by City Council stem from a year and a half of research, public outreach, and analysis by city planners and a volunteer task force. Read the final draft of the zoning text amendment on the Slot Homes website. For a quick debrief of slot homes and what changed, check out this Denverite article.  On April 30, Denver adopted administrative rules and regulations (PDF) for implementing the green roofs ordinance as passed by voters in November 2017. These rules apply to all projects subject to the green roof requirement and should be read in conjunction with the ordinance (PDF). Adoption of the rules and regulations comes after a public review process held earlier in 2018.
The Green Roofs Review Task Force has created a draft proposal (PDF) for strengthening the benefits of the ordinance, while reducing the costs. The proposal is open for public review and comment through noon on June 3. To comment, use this form or email your feedback. Responses received by noon on May 18 will reach the task force before its next meeting. A cost analysis and methodology are available on the green roofs web page. Two public briefing and input sessions will be held at 201 W. Colfax Ave., Denver:
Any changes to the initiative will require the support of two-thirds of City Council, or 9 votes. In a busy Monday night, City Council also approved four amendments to the Denver Building and Fire Code. The changes include:
City Seeks Public Input on Draft Federal Action Plan for Housing and Community Development Programs5/1/2018
The Denver Office of Economic Development is seeking public input and comment to its proposed 2018 federal Action Plan for local housing, economic development, public service, and neighborhood facilities programs that utilize federal funds. Public meetings will be held on Thursday, May 10 from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Wellington Webb Building, 201 W. Colfax, Rooms 4.F.6-4.G.2; and on Wednesday, June 6 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Montbello Recreation Center, 15555 E. 53rd Ave., Community Room.
The meetings will also provide an overview of Denver’s proposed framework that partners with the Denver Housing Authority to double the Affordable Housing Fund annually – from $15 million to $30 million – and generate a new funding surge of an estimated $105 million for affordable housing over the next five years. The draft action plan document, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will be available for a 30-day public comment period from May 15 through June 15, 2018 at denvergov.org/oed. The 2018 Action Plan encompasses the following federal programs: Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Investment Partnership Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program, and Emergency Shelter Grant programs. The plan includes information about the overall goals and objectives for the year with a description of the available resources and proposed actions to address identified needs. All proposed activities and projects are intended to principally benefit citizens of Denver who have extremely low- and moderate-incomes, and populations that have special needs such as elderly, disabled, homeless individuals and families, as well as individuals with HIV/AIDS. Sign language interpretation and Spanish translation can be provided at the public meetings with five business days’ notice. For more information, contact Rachel King at 720-913-1669. Anyone unable to attend a public meeting may send comments to rachel.king@denvergov.org. Final copies of the plan will be available upon HUD approval. The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce. Here's what this program provides:
En espanol. Denver Proposal Doubles Housing Fund and Provides $105 Million to Increase Affordable Housing4/17/2018
Mayor Michael B. Hancock today released a proposed framework that partners with the Denver Housing Authority (DHA) to double the Affordable Housing Fund annually – from $15 million to $30 million – and generate a new estimated $105 million funding surge for affordable housing in the next five years.
“Denver’s need for more affordable housing is critical. Since our creation of Denver’s first dedicated Affordable Housing Fund, we’ve been working on ways to leverage those dollars to expand the fund’s capacity and broaden its impact,” Mayor Hancock said. “This proposal will deploy more funding quicker to support our residents and families without increasing costs on the very households we are working to serve.” The Mayor continued, “We can all agree – more resources are key to addressing this challenge. The Housing Authority has been a trusted partner in building and preserving high quality affordable homes for those who need them, and this partnership will allow us to do more, faster for residents who are working hard and need support.” The proposal would improve the alignment of Denver’s Affordable Housing Fund with the five-year housing plan. Ultimately, Denver would double its creation and preservation estimates from 3,000 units to at least 6,400 units over five years. The proposal directs about half of the newly doubled Affordable Housing Fund to support those most burdened by housing costs (0-30% AMI and those experiencing homelessness) and allocates the other half to fulfill other priorities within the Housing an Inclusive Denver five-year plan. Confused about what you need to get a permit for and what you don't? Download this slideshow created by Community Planning and Development to help you navigate the process.  Denver’s new five-year housing policy, strategy and investment plan, Housing an Inclusive Denver, was adopted last night by Denver City Council.
Housing an Inclusive Denver outlines the strategies that will guide Denver’s affordable housing investments to create and preserve strong neighborhoods and diverse housing options that are accessible and affordable to all Denver residents. It is centered around four fundamental values:
“The adoption of our plan is a milestone in our work to ensure safe, affordable and accessible housing for every Denver resident,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “This plan will guide our future housing investments in a way that reflects our city’s values, especially when it comes to helping lift up those residents that need our support the most.” Last night’s council adoption concludes a 12-month process of research, analysis, debate, and public input. Action plans that support the implementation of Housing an Inclusive Denver will be adopted annually by the Denver Office of Economic Development. The Action Plan for 2018 will be reviewed and discussed at the next Housing Advisory Committee meeting, set for March 1. The 2018-2023 plan recommendations include investment guidelines balanced along the income spectrum, with 40-50% of the city’s combined housing resources supporting people experiencing homeless and/or earning below 30% Area Median Income (AMI), 20-30% of housing dollars serving renters earning between 31% and 80% AMI, and 20-30% of investments serving residents seeking to become homeowners or remain in homes they own. Housing an Inclusive Denver is available to view or download here. The full plan is being translated into Spanish and will be available to view or download on OED’s website in the coming weeks. The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce. The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is requesting qualifications from partners interested in contracting with the city to preserve existing income-restricted and unsubsidized affordable properties. OED has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) in order to establish a pool of potential partners for future collaboration on preserving properties that are affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
There are currently more than 20,000 income-restricted housing units throughout Denver that were created through public investments. Over the next five years, more than 1,750 of these units are at risk of losing their affordability due to expiring income restrictions through a contract or covenant that is set to terminate. In addition, OED is interested in preserving unsubsidized affordable units throughout Denver that do not currently have an income restriction in place but remain affordable to low- and moderate-income households. The RFQ seeks to establish a pool of partners for future consideration on preserving affordability of these types of housing. OED funding may be available for acquisition and rehabilitation of existing income-restricted and unsubsidized housing through low interest, subordinate debt. Specific structure and terms of the financial commitment shall be negotiated and underwritten as appropriate given the preservation opportunity. Additional information and an online application is available at denvergov.org/oed. The deadline to submit applications is Friday, February 23, 2018, at 4 p.m. MDT. If you have searched for affordable housing, lived in affordable housing, been denied for affordable housing, or felt overwhelmed by the process, Mi Casa would like to hear about your experience.
Participate in a focus group to discuss affordable housing on: Wednesday January 17, 2018 12:30 - 1:30 pm Please RSVP They will be serving lunch so please call, Carla Kaplan-Gomez, Recruitment Coordinator at 303-539-5619 to reserve your spot. Please let them know if you need a bus pass to get here in order participate in the Focus Group. In addition, please take the Assessment of Fair Housing Survey and let the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) know of needed improvements. This survey is part of an effort to make housing more inclusive and more accessible. Click here to complete an online survey (available in multiple languages) or fill out a paper survey (available at the front desk at Mi Casa). The City and County of Denver is among five metro municipalities working jointly on an analysis called the Assessment of Fair Housing. A public survey is being administered now through December 30, 2017, to better understand residents’ housing decisions and experiences living, working, and going to school in the region.
The survey takes approximately 15 minutes and is available online in eight languages at http://denver-aurora-boulderafh.com/surveys/. Additional accommodations are available by request by calling 1-800-748-3222, x236 or emailing jgarner@bbcresearch.com. Other elements of the assessment will include focus groups and meetings with residents, immigrant and refugee communities, LGBTQ community, civil rights advocates, affordable housing developers, social service agencies, and real estate agents. The Assessment of Fair Housing study is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in an effort to increase housing opportunities and economic inclusion nationwide. Details about the regional assessment and upcoming events are available at www.denver-aurora-boulderafh.com. A draft report on the assessment and action plans is expected to be available for public comment in February 2018. The Assessment of Fair Housing will be coordinated with Denver’s other local and federal planning efforts on housing to promote inclusive communities across the city. Mediation between renters facing eviction and residential landlords, a landlord-tenant guide, and financial relief for residents experiencing a housing crisis are all part of the city’s comprehensive response to Denver’s increasing housing costs.
Today, Mayor Michael B. Hancock announced a suite of new tools led by the Office of Housing and Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) and provided through the Office of Economic Development, Denver County Courts and Denver Human Services, all designed to help residents stay in their homes and weather financial setbacks. “We want our residents to be able to stay in their homes, build their lives and build their futures, and their city is coming together to help people in their time of need to do just that,” Mayor Hancock said. “These new tools will work in tandem with other affordability programs in the city to help residents remain in their homes, and keep Denver the vibrant, inclusive city we all cherish.” The three new tools are mediation services, rent and utility assistance, and a landlord tenant guide on rights and services. Landlord Tenant Guide The city worked in partnership with more than 15 tenant and landlord organizations, Denver County Courts, the Apartment Association of Metro Denver and other stakeholder groups, to develop a new, comprehensive Tenant-Landlord Guide that provides an easy-to-understand breakdown of the rights of both residential tenants and landlords in the City and County of Denver. The guide also provides residential renters and landlords with a list of financial and mediation resources to help resolve disputes without going to court. The guide will be available online immediately at www.denvergov.org/housing as well as in Denver County Courts, at the Pro Se Resource Centre, and at various resource locations throughout the City. Mediation Services The City today also launched a new landlord-tenant mediation service that aims to engage an experienced mediator to resolve disputes between residential landlords and tenants through negotiation before and after an eviction process is triggered. Either the landlord or tenant may engage with mediation services prior to the start of an eviction proceeding or, if an eviction is filed, during the three-day period prior to the case coming before the Court or prior to a decision by the Court. The final-outcome of the mediation will be a formal understanding that is binding on the parties as reviewed by the Court. Through mediation, eviction proceedings will be more balanced, allowing tenants an opportunity to access financial resources to stay in their homes. This free pilot service is being offered in partnership with Community Mediation Concepts and may be accessed by calling 311. “Stopping displacement in our city is a primary value and goal of the new five year housing plan, Housing an Inclusive Denver,” said Kevin Marchman, chair of the Denver Housing Advisory Committee. “The new partnership with Denver Courts on a mediation diversion pilot program for eviction cases, the landlord tenant guide, and funding from the affordable housing fund to provide direct financial assistance to families in need, are examples of just some of the tools we can employ to support residents in Denver.” “The Landlord Tenant Guide and Mediation Program are important parts for improving the education of all parties and expanding opportunities to successfully resolve disputes,” Nancy Burke, vice president for government affairs at the Apartment Association of Metro Denver said. “By improving an understanding of a residential lease, all parties will benefit.” Rent and Utility Assistance For financial support, the city will launch the Temporary Rental and Utility Assistance Program in November. The new program through the Office of Economic Development will support low- and moderate-income residents facing a crisis - like unsafe housing conditions, economic pressures or a potential eviction - that could result in the loss of their home. This new program will be offered in coordination with the expansion of the Department of Human Services’ (DHS) Eviction Assistance program, which provides a dedicated, onsite DHS outreach worker to eviction court to connect residents onsite to any number of public benefits, including eviction assistance or first month’s rent or deposit assistance. This coordinated approach marks an initial step in the implementation of the city’s recently announced Housing an Inclusive Denver Five-Year Affordable Housing Plan. Please join Council District 11 for their Housing 101 event on Saturday, October 21st @ 9:30 – 12:00pm at the Evie Garrett Dennis Campus – 4800 Telluride St, Denver 80249.
The keynote speaker will be Erik Solivan from the Office of HOPE. They will also have a large resource fair.
The Office of Economic Development, the Office of HOPE, Denver’s Road Home and the City’s Housing Advisory Committee have been working over the last several months to develop a comprehensive housing plan to guide policy and investments in affordable housing development, preservation and programs. The public review draft of the plan, Housing an Inclusive Denver, outlines our values and core goals for housing policy in Denver, including:
Fundamental Values
Core Goals
The Public Review draft is available for public comment over the next 45 days on the Office of Economic Development’s website at www.denvergov.org/housing. Please note that the Public Review Draft is currently available in English and will be available on OED’s website in the coming two weeks in Spanish as well. Public comment on the Public Review Draft will be collected via this link through November 13, 2017. At the end of the public comment period, the City team will review comments received from the public, stakeholders, and members of City Council and update the final version of the plan as appropriate for subsequent approval by City Council.  Flyer describing Tenant Rights and the Homeless Prevention Hotline How should we plan for growth in the citywide Blueprint Denver plan? Attend a workshop near you.
WHAT: City planners have heard from thousands of Denverites about their priorities for how we grow as a city. Starting today, planners will host five Blueprint Denver workshops where residents can review and provide input on draft maps and potential future growth strategies. Discussion will cover creating new transit corridors, employment and residential hubs, and ensuring all residents have access to amenities, transportation, jobs, trail connections and quality open space. Residents will help identify ways of managing our population growth that are inclusive, equitable and honor the things we love most about our city. WHEN & WHERE: TONIGHT’s WORKSHOP: Wednesday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. Maxwell Elementary School, 14390 Bolling Dr. OTHER WORKSHOPS: Southeast: Thursday, September 14 at 5:30 p.m. University of Denver: Anderson Academic Commons, 2150 E Evans Ave. Southwest: Tuesday, September 19 at 5:30 p.m. Doull Elementary, 2520 S. Utica St. Northwest: Wednesday, September 20 at 5:30 p.m. Scheitler Rec Center, 5031 W 46th Ave. Central: Thursday, September 21 at 5:30 p.m. East High School, 1600 City Park Esplanade About Denveright Denveright is a community-driven planning process that challenges you to shape how we want to evolve in four key areas: land use, mobility, parks, and recreational resources. Plans included in Denveright are: Blueprint Denver (land use and transportation); the Game Plan (parks and recreation); Denver Moves: Transit; and Denver Moves: Pedestrians and Trails. Visit denvergov.org/denveright. A comprehensive plan by the City and County of Denver to address the challenges of housing availability and affordability is underway, with public input being sought through a survey as well as a community meeting on Thursday, June 29, at North High School from 6-8 p.m. “This five-year plan for action for Denver will help us make critical decisions on how to maximize the city’s housing resources,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “Across departments and agencies, along with our Housing Advisory Committee, we are working very closely on a detailed, intentional plan to tackle our housing issues. Public involvement is an absolutely essential ingredient to this process.” The public survey will be available online beginning Thursday, June 15, at http://www.denvergov.org/housing along with options to provide thoughts in person at the community meeting. The plan will bring a focus on aligning strategies along the entire continuum of housing need from homelessness to homeownership. It will include measurable goals for the development and preservation of affordable rental and for-sale housing as well as policy recommendations aimed at promoting economic opportunity and the connection between housing, healthy living, and good-paying jobs. The community meeting will include light refreshments, Spanish translation and free child care. Additional translation services will be available upon request to 720-913-1999. The plan is expected to be presented to City Council in September 2017. The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce.  Initiative is one of the 30 short-term action items in six months underway by Office of HOPE
Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock’s Office of Housing and Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) today outlined a new citywide partnership aimed at providing coordinated, strategic assistance for people facing eviction, and support for vulnerable neighborhoods. The initiative is one of the 30 short-term action items unveiled by Mayor Hancock and the Office of HOPE on Friday at the Denver Housing Summit. “We know far too many people in Denver are facing eviction, are being priced out of their homes, or are living in a community that is highly vulnerable to change that displaces longtime residents,” Mayor Hancock said. “Through the Office of HOPE’s coordinated eviction assistance programs, we are pulling together the city’s work to strategically invest city dollars to help the most people gain or maintain affordable homes, good paying jobs, and healthy lifestyles.” Mayor Michael B. Hancock and Erik Soliván, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Housing & Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), today launched a new strategy aimed at helping Denver residents experiencing homelessness or struggling to make ends meet.
The city’s strategy will go beyond a housing-first approach, and focus efforts on connecting individuals and families to affordable housing, healthy living and good paying jobs. The new approach for Denver will integrate all three factors to empower people to lead vibrant lives no matter their station in life. “We want our residents to have the opportunity to turn a house into a home, and truly thrive in our city,” Mayor Hancocksaid. “To give people the chance to build a home, build their lives and build their futures, we must go beyond putting a roof over someone’s head. This is a new approach to leveraging our resources and coordinating department work to connect our people with good jobs, good health and a good home. When these three needs are met, people are empowered to succeed.” Mayor Hancock and Soliván detailed the strategy and supporting action plan at the city’s third annual Housing Summit.The Office of HOPE will lead the work of leveraging public and private partner programs and resources to provide:
Denver is experiencing a historic low for inventory and high cost of homeownership with median sale prices exceeding $350,000. And according to the Denver Housing Authority, a minimum of 21,000 affordable units are needed to meet the current housing demand. This need impacts everyone from those in our shelters to workers on construction sites, teachers, firefighters, police officers and the service industry. The population of those who are homeless has also changed in recent years:
Under the three priority areas of affordable housing, healthy living and good paying jobs, the Office of HOPE, working across agencies, compiled a list of 30 short-term actions to improve and expand city and partner services throughout the end of the year. Short-term actions include: Housing
Health and Supportive Services
Workforce
For the full list of short-term action items go to: www.DenverGov.org/HOPE. “The strategy and actions reflect the feedback of our partners, communities and city agencies,” Soliván said. “We are grateful for their hard work and ongoing support, and know that by working together, we can do more to build a safer, healthier and stronger Denver.” This new strategy will also work with the Mayor’s mobility efforts to ensure the city is providing more and better transportation options for families and individuals where limited options may be impacting their ability to find affordable housing and good jobs. Today, the City and County of Denver invests more in affordable housing and homelessness than ever before. The new strategy builds and expands on the considerable work by the city and partners in the areas of affordable housing, job training and health services over the last six years. For a list of that work go to www.DenverGov.org/HOPE. City Seeks Public Input to Draft 2016 Report on Housing and Community Development Programs3/14/2017
The Denver Office of Economic Development is seeking public input and comment to its draft 2016 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for local housing, economic development, public service, and neighborhood facilities programs. Public meetings will be held on Wednesday, March 22 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Swansea Recreation Center, 2650 E. 49th Ave., and on Thursday, March 23 from 6-7:30 p.m. at the Montbello Branch Library, 12955 Albrook Dr.
The draft CAPER, which will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), is now available for a public comment period through March 30, 2017 at denvergov.org/oed. The 2016 Draft CAPER reports on the city’s activities funded by the following federal programs: Community Development Block Grant Program, HOME Investment Partnership Program, Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS Program, and Emergency Shelter Grant programs. All activities and projects are intended to principally benefit citizens of Denver who have extremely low, low- and moderate-incomes, and populations that have special needs such as elderly, disabled, homeless, and HIV/AIDS families and individuals. Sign language interpretation and Spanish translation can be provided at the public meetings with five business days’ notice. Deaf or hearing impaired residents may contact TTY 7-1-1 or 800-659-2656. For more information, contact Monique Johnson at 720-913-1549. Anyone unable to attend a public meeting may send comments to monique.johnson@denvergov.org. The Denver Office of Economic Development (OED) is dedicated to advancing economic prosperity for the City of Denver, its businesses, neighborhoods and residents. Working with a wide variety of community partners, OED operates to create a local environment that stimulates balanced growth through job creation, business assistance, housing options, neighborhood redevelopment and the development of a skilled workforce. |
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