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Englewood renter asks task force to expand diverse affordable housing options
Summary
Amber Reyes, a second-grade teacher and member of the Englewood Affordable Housing Task Force, urged the panel during public comment to pursue tangible, varied affordable housing options for lower-income families.
Amber Reyes, a second-grade teacher and member of the Englewood Affordable Housing Task Force, told the panel during public comment that she grew up in low-income housing and urged the task force to pursue more diverse affordable housing options.
"I was thankful that my mom and I had a place to live because a lot of people don't have the opportunity," Reyes said, adding that she wants "to advocate for more diverse options for lower income families" so parents have the chance to raise children in safer, fuller environments.
Reyes described personal barriers her family faced when renting, saying they lacked upfront funds and the credit history that many landlords require. She credited a leasing agent and a landlord who worked in education for taking a chance on her family, and used that example to argue that intentional policies and outreach are needed to widen access.
She said housing choices matter because different households need different types of homes: "Some people are at the stage where all they need is an apartment because they don't have time to manage the lawn... You have people who have large families, who have children, who deserve a safe place to play outside of their house, you know, with a yard." Reyes urged a communitywide effort, saying small Englewood can "rewrite the story on what affordable housing is" by pursuing justice and equity.
Reyes also described her own education and work history to underline what she sees as a mismatch between effort and opportunity: she said she was the first in her family to go to college on a full-ride scholarship, later earned a master's degree and has worked multiple jobs, yet homeownership remained out of reach.
"I really hope that something truly tangible comes out of it, something that has, like, real action and real impact, not just a band aid," she said.
The remarks were part of the task force's public comment period; the transcript contains no formal response or vote tied to Reyes's comments.
