High home prices, lack of supply sever metro residents from communities

summer, he felt like he’d won the lottery. After more than a decade of chasing the cheapest rent across the metro area, the Littleton bartender nally has a house to call his own.

middle-income people live where they work. But as cities and towns contend with historically high home costs and a lack of supply, residents like Laney have struggled to live in their communities.

BY ROBERT TANN COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

When Chris Laney moved into his new three-bedroom home last

“I almost feel guilty that I have it,” said Laney, 49.

Laney is one of a handful of residents who have secured housing through a subsidized program aimed at helping lower- and

“I’ve always felt like I was just passing through instead of living somewhere, putting down roots,”

BY ANDREW FRAIELI AFRAIELI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Gov. Jared Polis, on the tail of his state of the state address where he spoke on housing solutions, visited the Lamar Station Crossing apartment complex in Lakewood on Jan. 30.

The complex was built in two phases and is meant to be affordable. It accepts housing choice vouchers.

“We really applaud the forwardlooking vision of Lakewood and really making sure that more housing now is a key element of making sure people can afford to rent and buy homes in Colorado,” Polis told Colorado Community Media.

The complex was built by Metro West Housing Solutions, a nonprofit developer that manages apartments in both Denver and Lakewood, providing vouchers and human services. CEO of MWHS Tami Fischer showed Polis around the complex, which is located directly next to the West Rail Line.

Polis asked about the transportation people living at the complex use, and Fischer said most residents still have cars and use them, but MWHS has experimented with giving vouchers for RTD tickets before.

Mayor of Lakewood Adam Paul also joined Polis in touring the complex and commented that public transport in Lakewood is not as built out as he’d like.

“We need a strong metro-wide transit and when people live close

SEE

Gov. Jared Polis visits Lamar Station Crossing in Lakewood JEFFCO

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