Module 5 Interaction Presentation
Denver’s Housing Issue
The problem and ways to solve it
Interaction
Initially I reached out to Joe Neguse because he is the Vice chair for the Housing and Transportation for the Poverty and Opportunity Task Force.
Since I am not in his district I had to reach out to Diana DeGette
From 2019-2020 I had actively been at the state Capital trying to work with legislators to find other avenues to promote true affordable housing.
Here is a link to an article that can summarize some of the problems with the city’s housing not being affordable.
https://www.cpr.org/2021/10/11/colorado-affordable-housing-crisis-explained/
Fast Facts and Observations
Fact: Beginning in 2022 the City’s minimum wage will be $15.87 per hour. https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Auditors-Office/Denver-Labor/Citywide-Minimum-Wage/
Observation: More people will face housing insecurity because $15.87 is not a living wage in Denver for a single member household.
Fact: The average rent in Denver is $1800+ https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/co/denver/
Observation: How can a single person with no children afford to pay $1800+ for a 1 bedroom on $15.87 an hour? They can’t.
Contacting Congresswoman DeGette
I sent an email and filled out an interest card and I called. No one got back to me until last week.
The representative for Congresswoman DeGette’s office requested that I email them my proposal to help with the housing crisis.
Market Rent Solutions
Rent control: Though unpopular Denver would significantly benefit from it.
Companies that relocate to Denver and move their workers here should be obligated to pay 3.5 times the entry level pay. This is because a person must make 3.5 times the rent to secure housing.
Companies could lose tax exemptions and subsidies for not paying a true living wage.
How you can help
Attend
Attend city council meetings
Contact
Contact your city councilman
Start
Start the conversation
Contact
Contact your state representative
Contact
Contact your Senator
Organize in
Organize in your community
Works Cited
Cafe, R. (2021). Denver, CO Rental Market Trends. Retrieved from Rent Cafe: https://www.rentcafe.com/average-rent-market-trends/us/co/denver/
Manuel, O. (2021, October 11). Colorado’s housing crisis explained. CPR News is exploring the issue by meeting the people living through it. Retrieved from cpr.org: https://www.cpr.org/2021/10/11/colorado-affordable-housing-crisis-explained/
O'Brien, T. (2021). Citywide Minimum Wage. Retrieved from Denvergov.org: https://denvergov.org/Government/Agencies-Departments-Offices/Auditors-Office/Denver-Labor/Citywide-Minimum-Wage/