Agenda Date: 08/12/2025
Subject:
Title
Regional housing needs assessment update and next steps w/DRCOG
Body
From:
James L. Becklenberg, City Manager
Prepared by:
Kathleen Osher, Deputy City Manager
Julie Latham, Housing Policy Analyst
Presentations:
Sheila Lynch, Regional Planning and Development Director, DRCOG
Zach Feldman, Data Science and Analytics Program Manager, DRCOG
Kathleen Osher, Deputy City Manager
Julie Latham, Housing Policy Analyst
PURPOSE:
Review of the Regional Housing Needs Assessment completed by the Denver Regional Council of Governments as part of compliance with the housing needs assessment requirement of Colorado's SB24-174 Sustainable Affordable Housing Act.
LONG-TERM OUTCOME(S) SERVED:
Robust and Resilient Economy
DISCUSSION:
The Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG) embarked on regional housing work in recent years in response to member governments' request for assistance in tackling this matter on a regional level. The Denver Area Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) is its leadoff housing planning effort and will be followed by a strategy that builds off the foundation it provides. The Regional Housing Needs Assessment was reviewed and accepted by the DRCOG Board of Directors in October 2024 as a guide for future housing planning, strategy and action.
The Sustainable Affordable Housing Act, also known as SB24-174, was passed by the state legislature last year. While the law includes several provisions related to housing, one component is a requirement for local jurisdictions to conduct a housing needs assessment that conforms to methodologies developed by the Colorado Department of Local Affairs (DOLA) by December 31, 2026. However, local governments are exempt from the requirement to conduct a local housing needs assessment if they participate in a regional housing needs assessment that complies with DOLA's methodology. Reviewing the Regional Housing Needs Assessment at a public meeting of the governing bod...
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