Affordable Housing Strategic Plan 2015-2019

Fort Collins has long been committed to creating a housing system that caters to the diverse needs of its residents. This vision is rooted in the belief that everyone, regardless of income, age, or life stage, should have access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing. To achieve this goal, the City of Fort Collins has been proactive in developing and updating its Housing Strategic Plan every five years since 1999. This document serves as a roadmap for addressing the housing needs of the community, particularly focusing on affordable housing options for residents earning 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less.

Since its inception in 1999, the Housing Strategic Plan has undergone several updates to reflect the evolving housing landscape and the changing needs of Fort Collins’ residents. The 2015-2019 Affordable Housing Strategic Plan marks the third iteration of this comprehensive initiative. Each update builds upon the lessons learned from previous plans and incorporates new data and insights to better address the housing challenges faced by the community. This iterative approach ensures that the plan remains relevant and effective in meeting the housing needs of Fort Collins’ diverse population.

The primary goal of the Housing Strategic Plan is to increase the proportion of affordable housing within Fort Collins’ housing stock. By 2020, the plan aimed to have 6% of the city’s housing units designated as affordable housing, built through various affordable housing programs. Looking further ahead, the City has set an ambitious long-term goal of increasing this ratio to 10% by 2040. This objective underscores the City’s commitment to ensuring that a significant portion of its housing units remains accessible to residents across different income levels.

The Housing Affordability Policy Study (HAPS) serves as the cornerstone of the Housing Strategic Plan. This comprehensive study examines Fort Collins’ entire housing inventory and system, providing valuable insights into the current state of housing affordability within the city. The findings of HAPS reveal significant gaps in the affordable housing inventory across all income levels. However, the study highlights that the most pressing need is for housing options that cater to the lowest wage earners. Additionally, HAPS shows that many middle-income households are facing financial strain, spending a larger portion of their income on housing while experiencing stagnant wage growth. This situation underscores the urgent need for affordable housing solutions that can alleviate the financial burden on households across the entire affordable area median income (AMI) spectrum.

The Housing Strategic Plan is designed to address the multifaceted challenges of housing affordability in Fort Collins. By focusing on increasing the supply of affordable housing units, the plan aims to create a more equitable housing system that supports residents at all income levels. The plan’s objectives are not only to meet the immediate housing needs of the community but also to lay the groundwork for sustainable and inclusive housing solutions for the future.

The Housing Strategic Plan is a vital component of Fort Collins’ efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable housing system. Through its comprehensive approach and ambitious goals, the plan seeks to address the housing needs of residents across different income levels, ensuring that everyone has access to safe, affordable, and suitable housing. As the city continues to grow and evolve, the Housing Strategic Plan will remain a critical tool in shaping a housing landscape that supports the well-being and prosperity of all Fort Collins residents.

For more information on the Housing Strategic Plan and related initiatives, please visit the following external links: