Affordable housing is a term often misunderstood, but its importance for thriving communities like Manitou Springs must be balanced. While debates about affordability can become politically charged, affordable housing provides stability, equity, and economic growth for individuals and entire towns. To fully understand its significance, we must explore what affordable housing means, why it matters, and the potential consequences of neglecting this critical need.
What is affordable housing?
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines affordable housing as housing that costs no more than 30% of a household’s gross income, including utilities. Colorado aligns with this definition, emphasizing that families should not have to choose between paying rent and covering essential needs like healthcare and food.
For Manitou Springs, a town with a median home price of $546,641 and rental prices averaging $1,550 per month, according to Zillow, the concept of affordable housing means providing options for residents earning less than the area’s median income. Based on HUD’s affordability threshold, a family would need to earn at least $62,000 annually to afford the average rent comfortably – a figure that excludes many workers in the service, education, and public safety sectors who are essential to the town’s success.
The importance of affordable housing
Affordable housing is not a handout; it’s an investment in the health and diversity of a community. Here’s why it’s vital for towns like Manitou Springs:
• Economic sustainability: Teachers, firefighters, retail worker, and healthcare professionals all need affordable places to live. Without housing options, these essential workers are forced to commute long distances, increasing turnover and reducing community engagement.
• Community diversity: Affordable housing promotes socioeconomic diversity, which enriches the cultural fabric of a town. Manitou Springs thrives on its reputation as an eclectic and welcoming community, which could erode without inclusive housing policies.
• Youth retention: High housing costs push younger residents to seek more affordable living elsewhere. A town without young families risks losing its vitality and long-term sustainability.
Historical context: Learning from redlining
Understanding the importance of affordable housing also requires acknowledging the systemic barriers that have created the current crisis. While Manitou Springs has no documented evidence of formal redlining like Denver, systemic inequities shaped housing opportunities nationwide. Denver’s redlining practices in the 1930s and 1940s excluded Black and immigrant families from wealth-building opportunities through homeownership. These discriminatory practices entrenched racial and economic disparities that persist today, limiting access to affordable housing for historically marginalized groups.
Although smaller towns like Manitou Springs may not have been explicitly redlined, informal segregation and restrictive covenants likely shaped local housing patterns. Recognizing these historical inequities is crucial in addressing today’s housing challenges and creating inclusive policies.
What happens if we ignore affordable housing?
Communities that fail to prioritize affordable housing face dire consequences. Without housing options, local economies suffer as businesses struggle to attract and retain workers. Families move away, leaving schools with declining enrollments and reduced funding. Neighborhoods grow increasingly homogeneous, losing the vibrancy and diversity that make towns like Manitou Springs unique.
Over time, the lack of affordable housing leads to social and economic stagnation. Gentrification and rising housing costs displace long-term residents, eroding the sense of community that draws visitors and residents alike to places like Manitou Springs. The town risks becoming a tourist-only destination, devoid of the rich, year-round community life that sustains its identity.
A call to action
Affordable housing is not just a policy issue; it’s a moral and economic imperative. For Manitou Springs to remain a vibrant, inclusive, and thriving community, leaders and residents must commit to solutions. Policies supporting mixed-income developments, investments in affordable rental housing, and incentives for first-time homebuyers can help ensure that everyone, regardless of income, has a place in the community.
By embracing affordable housing, Manitou Springs can honor its legacy as an eclectic, welcoming town while securing a future where families, workers and residents of all backgrounds can thrive. Consider attending a local monthly Housing Advisory Board meeting for more information to add to the conversation.
