Housing
When our educators are supported, we all benefit.
A crucial element in delivering high-quality education is the ability to attract and retain talented teachers. Unfortunately, the soaring housing costs in Colorado are making it increasingly difficult for educators to afford living in the communities where they teach, which impacts the stability and quality of our public schools.
Addressing these challenges demands the collective effort of our entire community—local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations alike. By investing in our educators and ensuring they receive both professional and personal support, we are also investing in the future of our children and the overall prosperity of our state.
To show our commitment to supporting educators and to ease the housing burden for newer and historically lower-paid teachers, we have partnered with Grand Peaks to offer one year of rent-free housing to 10 Denver Public Schools (DPS) educators. This initiative is not just a one-time effort; we are using it as a pilot program and are actively working with other real estate developers to expand this model. Our goal is to make this a regular practice through the DPS Foundation and potentially other school foundations, helping to support educators more effectively.
Investing in Educators
Addressing these challenges demands the collective effort of our entire community—local businesses, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations alike. By investing in our educators and ensuring they receive both professional and personal support, we are also investing in the future of our children and the overall prosperity of our state.
Our Approach
The shortage of affordable housing is a major obstacle in attracting and keeping educators. It’s essential that teachers have the opportunity to live within the communities they serve. To tackle this issue, we need creative policies and partnerships focused on providing affordable housing solutions for public servants, including teachers. This might include collaborations between public and private sectors, tax incentives for developers, or rental assistance programs specifically for educators.
Making an Impact
While this initiative alone won’t resolve the broader issue of unaffordable housing, it aims to highlight the problem and encourage others to leverage their resources to address housing affordability in Denver and across the state. The positive feedback from the 10 selected educators has been overwhelming, with many describing the support as “life-changing” for them and their families.
Advancing This Initiative
As of December 2024, another developer has signed on to support DPS educators in this way. AvalonBay is providing 5 DPS teachers with one year of free housing at a complex in Governor’s Park. The DPS Foundation is currently working to expand this effort, with the goal to provide 150 DPS educators with housing by school year 2025-2026.
The partnership between DPS Foundation, GrandPeaks, and AvalonBay has gifted me an incredible year of teaching and a stress free living situation. With the rising cost of living in Denver, I am forever grateful for the financial stresses they took off my plate, and I am a better teacher every day because of it!