JOINT RELEASE: SIGNED! Legislation to Support First Responders Through Affordable Housing Opportunities

DENVER, CO – Today, the Governor signed legislation sponsored by Senator Kyle Mullica, D-Thornton, and Representative Chad Clifford, D-Centennial, to support first responders and help them afford to live in the communities where they serve.

SB26-053, cosponsored by Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Weld County, and Representative Ryan Gonzalez, R-Greeley, would expand eligibility for mortgage loans through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) to include peace officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), correctional officers, 911 operators, port of entry officers, wildlife officers and their families who don’t qualify under current eligibility guidelines.

“This new law is about taking care of those who take care of us,” Mullica said. “By expanding eligibility for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority’s mortgage loans to first responders, we can help ensure that the folks who protect our communities can actually afford to live in the communities where they serve. When we have an opportunity to take care of our first responders, we should jump at that opportunity.”

"Our new law will allow more first responders to qualify for affordable housing assistance to support those who give so much to our communities," Clifford said. "There is a concerning trend of first responders not being able to afford to live where they work. Our communities rely on first responders, and this law will expand an existing affordable housing program to save Coloradans money."

This legislation would implement an income cap of 110 percent of the CHFA cap on other programs. CHFA’s existing home mortgage program offers access to fixed-rate mortgage loans for low- and moderate-income Coloradans. CHFA also provides homeowner education and down payment assistance to support working families as they live, work, and thrive in their communities.