Developing Tomorrow’s Affordable Housing Workforce

Colorado needs over 136,000 more affordable housing units for low-income earners. That means the state needs people to build that housing. From skilled tradespeople to developers and property managers, the industry needs all kinds of workers to tackle the state’s housing crisis.

In Colorado Springs, Mat Lujan and Cliff Hunter head up Project Diakonia; a nonprofit that mentors at-risk youth with hands-on construction training, and partners with Habitat for Humanity to build affordable housing. Plus, the University of Denver offers an intensive, year-long curriculum to support housing and real estate professionals at every level. Co-director Susan Daggett says these cohorts bring together students with diverse experiences from all over the state, encouraging them to use their unique expertise to help solve problems together.

After we’re done developing and building affordable housing, it’s property managers who take on the day-to-day work. Since affordable housing is not like conventional housing, property managers and the other multifamily property staff in these developments need unique support. They can turn to chfareach, which is an educational program for people who are developing, managing, or living in affordable housing properties. Program coordinator Belinda Waldron says they currently support almost 700 organizations and properties, and that number is only expected to grow.

Resources from this episode:

• Project Diakonia
• The Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing at University of Denver
• chfareach