The Seminar featured Colorado-based research experts on housing attainability and affordability, and included time to ask questions of the speakers and to discuss among policymakers.

The topic of “Attainable Housing: What works and what’s next” was identified by members of our Family Impact Seminar Legislator and Gubernatorial Advisory Committee, which included bipartisan legislator representation and representation from the Governor’s Office. Not surprisingly, the attainable housing crisis was at the top of the collective list. And a March 2025 poll of Colorado voters showed that “housing is the top issue worrying Coloradans, across all genders, age groups and political affiliations”

Presentations and Speakers

The Right Homes in the Right Places

Heidi Aggeler, Managing Director and Co-Founder of Root Policy, shared research on:

• How housing development needs differ across Colorado’s regions
• Strategies to promote building the right homes
• Pathways to homeownership.

A fact sheet based on her presentation is available here.

Helping People Stay Housed

Dr. Josh Barocas, Associate Professor of Medicine at CU Anschutz, shared research on:

• Key factors to help keep people in their homes—whether renting or owning—in various stages of life, such as those who:

• • Have families
  • Are aging
  • Have substance use disorders or other chronic health needs
  • Have experienced homelessness.

• The evidence-based models already in use in Colorado and around the country.

A fact sheet based on his presentation is available here.

Family Impact Seminars, an evidence-informed model, are nonpartisan, educational sessions on pressing family issues chosen by state policymakers. Renowned research experts share the evidence on policy levers, then policymakers explore actionable paths forward together. While this is the first one in Colorado, 25 other states have held Seminars for over 30 years.

The Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab is a strategic research partner to state government to help drive policy and practice solutions. They are based out of the University of Denver and are independent and non-partisan. They also serve as Colorado’s evidence-based decision making Hub for state government, helping to align and accelerate use of data during policy and budget decisions. We are grateful for their partnership on hosting this inaugural Family Impact Seminar in Colorado.

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