An article by Hugo Balta, executive editor of The Fulcrum and the publisher of the Latino News Network, highlights what we all know as Building Biologists and as people who have been affected by unhealthy housing conditions. Although the article’s focus is on homelessness, the concepts can be extended to not only availability of housing…but also to the safety and quality of the housing.
The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless (CCH) is working to address the lack of long-term affordable and supportive housing, which they identify as the only lasting solution to homelessness. Cathy Alderman, the organization’s Chief Communications and Public Policy Officer, emphasizes that the primary challenge is the “high cost not just of housing, but the cost of living” in Colorado, which creates a significant barrier for people trying to access stable housing or find rentals they can afford.
To address these challenges, the Coalition operates under the fundamental belief that “housing is healthcare”. “We want to provide access to affordable housing and affordable health care so that people can be successful in the other areas of their life,” Alderman said. As both a housing developer and a federally qualified health center, CCH manages approximately 2,000 units across 23 residential properties while providing integrated health services through clinics and street medicine teams.
The Fulcrum spoke with Alderman on a recent episode of The Fulcrum Democracy Forum.
Alderman highlights that a major hurdle in solving homelessness is how it is often discussed in the absence of housing policy. “We can help people manage substance use disorders and mental health issues when they’re stably housed far better than we can if they’re out on the streets,” Alderman explained, noting that providing housing first allows for the addressing of other foundational issues….