Broomfield proclaims May 2025 Income-Aligned Housing Awareness Month; residents, providers urge more action

Mayor Pro Tem Schaff and the City and County of Broomfield formally proclaimed May 2025 as Income-Aligned Housing Awareness Month, a month of public events and outreach aimed at expanding awareness of housing support programs and reducing stigma associated with affordable housing.

The proclamation framed adequate housing as key to health, safety, family functioning and economic stability and noted the city’s approach to use person-centered language and a strength-based approach to services. City staff and partner organizations outlined a calendar of month-long activities, including a senior bingo event at the Broomfield Community Center and a veterans- and family-focused schedule of outreach events.

Housing staff introduced themselves at the meeting and emphasized that the proclamation is the city’s third annual recognition of income-aligned housing. Tessier, Broomfield’s housing policy manager, said the term “income aligned housing” is used to “destigmatize what affordable housing means” and to avoid terms such as “workforce housing” that can exclude households who work and nonetheless have low incomes. The housing team said the month’s events include a career and resource fair, employer and veteran-focused workshops, and an appreciation luncheon for senior residents.

Representatives from community partners described local needs and services. Kristen Heiser, executive director of the Broomfield Housing Alliance, said that local collaboration is unique and that partners told her they “aren’t just building housing, we’re actually building hope.” Gina Koffel, founder and CEO of Friends of Broomfield, traced the history of local advocacy that led to the formation of the housing authority and subsequent programs. Dan McCauley with Flatirons Habitat for Humanity noted that the median home price in Broomfield approaches $700,000 and described how partner organizations provide housing across the continuum. Dana Scott, executive director of Broomfield FISH, said the organization served over 15,000 unduplicated residents last year and that more than half were children, underscoring the connection between housing instability and food needs.

Several residents and program staff gave first-person accounts of using and referring people to city housing programs. Janet Sund, a long-time resident, described getting city help to repair bathroom leaks and said without the program she feared mold and further health and safety problems. Lisa Soccer, the city’s housing programs manager, described taking over the role during a transition and relayed voicemails from seniors thankful for housing assistance. Staff and council members said the city will continue programmatic work already funded in recent budgets.

Council members praised the work and called for continued attention to housing affordability, describing housing as central to retaining families and supporting local workers. Council members also emphasized the cross-sector nature of local efforts — faith groups, nonprofits, developers and city programs — and reiterated that much work remains.

The proclamation closes with a month of events and a request that residents and businesses display the U.S. flag to honor residents who have been affected by housing insecurity and to promote community support for local housing programs.