Investing in Affordable Housing and Community Development

The city's Housing and Human Services (HHS) department administers local and federal funding for affordable housing and capital investments for community development. The city directs this funding to benefit low- and moderate-income people in Boulder.

HHS distributes more than $3 million annually in funds through a competitive process to support affordable housing in Boulder. Affordable housing funds are used to build, rehabilitate or acquire affordable housing.

2023 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER)

We are currently accepting comments to the 2023 Consolidated Annual Performance Evaluation Report (CAPER) - draft PDF from Wednesday, January 31, 2024 through Sunday, March 3, 2024 by 5:00pm. All community members are encouraged to submit written comments or questions to Corina Marin at MarinC@bouldercolorado.gov or 303-441-4134.

We will hold a public hearing on Monday, March 4, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at 1101 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO, 80302.

In the interest of enhancing citizen participation, the City of Boulder, Boulder County, and the Boulder Broomfield Regional Consortium request comments on their 2023 CAPER. The CAPER describes how the City of Boulder and the Boulder-Broomfield Consortium allocated and expended its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), CDBG-CV Cares Act, HOME Investment Partnership Program (HOME), and HOME American Rescue Plan (HOME-ARP) funds from January 1-December 31, 2023. The CAPER addresses progress achieved in attaining goals and meeting priorities.

Funding Programs and Sources

The four primary fund sources are:

Affordable Housing Fund (AHF)

The Affordable Housing Fund is used to build, rehabilitate or acquire affordable housing. These local funds are often leveraged with other financial resources from the state and federal governments. Sources of the local funds include:

  • Commercial linkage fee
  • Inclusionary Housing cash-in-lieu contributions
  • General fund

Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)

The Community Housing Assistance Program Fund was established in 1991 to provide a simple and flexible, locally administered funding source to increase the supply of affordable housing for working households. Source for this fund include:

  • Property tax that generates around $3 million per year
  • Housing Excise Tax

HOME Program

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides grants from HUD to states and localities like Boulder. Boulder receives these funds as part of the Boulder Broomfield Regional HOME Consortium with the City of Longmont, the City and County of Broomfield and Boulder County. These funds are used for affordable housing activities, including:

  • New construction of affordable housing, including soft costs and predevelopment
  • Rehabilitation of rental housing and/or homeowner housing
  • Address recent and urgent health and safety needs

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Boulder began its participation in the Community Development Block Grant Program as an entitlement community when the program was initiated in 1975. As an entitlement community, Boulder receives funding directly from HUD. Traditionally, Boulder has spent funds primarily on capital projects and public service programs that have directly benefited low- and moderate-income residents, the elderly, severely disabled, and other special populations in the community.

CDBG and HOME funds allocated to Boulder and to the Boulder Broomfield Regional Consortium are awarded based upon the priorities identified in the 2020-2024 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan.

How to Apply - Affordable Housing Funds

Submit application

As of May 2023, there are no open fund rounds; we are not accepting applications for Affordable Housing Funds at this time. Please contact Eli Urken, Housing Investments Manager, at UrkenE@bouldercolorado.gov about future or time-sensitive investment opportunities.

2023 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Funding Awards

  • Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (permanent supportive housing unit upgrades): $39,600
  • Boulder Shelter for the Homeless (shelter upgrades): $97,161
  • Growing Gardens: $211,239
  • Harvest of Hope Pantry: $100,000
  • Thistle Parkside Village Townhomes: $152,000

Program Staff

Corina Marin, Grants Administrator

Notice of Nondiscrimination