In 1995, three South Denver human services organizations saw an opportunity to multiply their reach and effectiveness by joining forces in their fight to help people of limited means and challenging circumstances realize their best quality of life.
Arapahoe House, Inc., Arapahoe/Douglas Mental Health Network and Developmental Pathways collectively launched the Community Housing Development Association to promote, build and manage affordable housing in the South Denver metropolitan area. Including providing housing for those with special needs.
A Need in the Community
The CHDA founders believed that stable affordable housing provides an important foundation for the economic and social well-being of individuals, families and the communities in which they live. They saw, however, a broad gap between decent, affordable housing and many people who needed it.
Housing developers most often respond to lucrative, high-income markets. Simply put, they make more profit from high-end housing developments. This results in a dearth of decent, affordable housing for people of modest means, many of which also have special needs.
Meanwhile, the need for quality housing that’s accessible to people of modest financial means has only grown since 1995 and continues to rise.