Behind the Springs: What is Community Development?

National Community Development Week is an opportunity to showcase the many outstanding projects the City’s community development partners accomplish each year. From new affordable housing developments to improved neighborhood safety and ADA access, as well as programs assisting our most vulnerable residents. 

Community development in its broadest sense is about bringing people together to create solutions to community problems. The Community Development Division of the City of Colorado Springs supports the city’s efforts to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities and quality affordable homes for all people in Colorado Springs. We help the mayor achieve his goal of creating and preserving 1,000 affordable housing units a year. To accomplish this goal and others, we partner with local nonprofits, housing developers, and public agencies. Every year, we work with our stakeholders to assess community needs and target grant funds to provide services, neighborhood infrastructure and economic development to help our community realize its potential as a vibrant, inclusive, affordable and desirable place to live.  

Our division manages entitlement grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that include the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) programs. 
In 2020 the Community Development Division released HomeCOS: Housing our Future (read it here), the City’s affordable and attainable housing plan. A progress report will be released in April 2021. 

• Over 24,000 residents assisted per year (3 year average)
• We are leveraging $258 million in affordable housing construction, creating 1,725 jobs
• We received $5,015,045 from HUD in 2021 through the following programs:
  • $3,168,111 in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
  • $1,584,300 in HOME Investment Partnership (HOME)
  • $262,634 in Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG)
• We manage a $29 million loan portfolio with over 50 affordable multifamily properties
• Staff manages 35-40 projects a year with over 30 partner organizations
• Nine full time staff members – 100% grant funded
• Managing over $24 million in additional funds through the CARES Act and other relief programs to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Greccio Housing’s Atrium at Austin Bluffs, a 54 unit senior affordable housing development
• Exponential Impact’s Survive & Thrive business assistance program targeted to entrepreneurs in SE Colorado Springs
• The Springs Rescue Mission’s recently completed kitchen and dining facility
• Sunshine Home Care’s innovative solution to senior housing