Investing in Affordable Housing and Community Development

The city's Housing and Human Services (HHS) department administers local and federal funding for affordable housing and capital investments for community development. The city directs this funding to benefit low- and moderate-income people in Boulder.

HHS distributes more than $3 million annually in funds through a competitive process to support affordable housing in Boulder. Affordable housing funds are used to build, rehabilitate or acquire affordable housing.

Funding Programs and Sources

The four primary fund sources are:

Affordable Housing Fund (AHF)

The Affordable Housing Fund is used to build, rehabilitate or acquire affordable housing. These local funds are often leveraged with other financial resources from the state and federal governments. Sources of the local funds include:

  • Commercial linkage fee
  • Inclusionary Housing cash-in-lieu contributions
  • General fund

Community Housing Assistance Program (CHAP)

The Community Housing Assistance Program Fund was established in 1991 to provide a simple and flexible, locally administered funding source to increase the supply of affordable housing for working households. Source for this fund include:

  • Property tax that generates around $3 million per year
  • Housing Excise Tax

HOME Program

The HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) provides grants from HUD to states and localities like Boulder. Boulder receives these funds as part of the Boulder Broomfield Regional HOME Consortium with the City of Longmont, the City and County of Broomfield and Boulder County. These funds are used for affordable housing activities, including:

  • New construction of affordable housing, including soft costs and predevelopment
  • Rehabilitation of rental housing and/or homeowner housing
  • Address recent and urgent health and safety needs

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)

Boulder began its participation in the Community Development Block Grant Program as an entitlement community when the program was initiated in 1975. As an entitlement community, Boulder receives funding directly from HUD. Traditionally, Boulder has spent funds primarily on capital projects and public service programs that have directly benefited low- and moderate-income residents, the elderly, severely disabled, and other special populations in the community.

CDBG and HOME funds allocated to Boulder and to the Boulder Broomfield Regional Consortium are awarded based upon the priorities identified in the 2025-2029 Consolidated Plan. The Consolidated Plan is carried out through Annual Action Plans, which provide a concise summary of the actions, activities, and specific federal and non-federal resources that will be used each year to address the priority needs and specific goals identified by the Consolidated Plan.

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How to Apply - Affordable Housing Fund and Community Housing Assistance Program 2025 Fund Round

Application Information

The City of Boulder is committed to maintaining diverse housing options for all residents, regardless of income. Our goal is for 15% of all homes in Boulder to be affordable for low-, moderate-, and middle-income households by 2035.

To help achieve this goal, the City of Boulder will make approximately $18.28 million in local funding available in 2025 to support partners engaged in affordable housing development and rehabilitation activities. Local funding sources include the Affordable Housing Fund and the Community Housing Assistance Program.

If your organization is interested in applying, please apply online.

Funding Schedule

  • Application opens: August 8, 2025
  • Applications due: August 31, 2025, at 5 p.m.
  • Applicant meetings: Week of September 15, 2025 – Selected applicants will meet with the City of Boulder Affordable Housing Technical Review Group and provide a 10-minute, in-person presentation.
  • Notice of funding awards: By October 15, 2025

Please note: Late submissions will not be accepted. All applications must be submitted digitally.

Contact Information

For questions, please contact:

Program Staff

Corina Marin, Grants Administrator

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