Colorado law sets statewide homelessness planning and local coordination options

The Department of Local Affairs must present a proposal for a statewide homelessness strategy. The proposal must cover gaps in service access, state housing resources, coordination, funding and policy options, data systems, and regional navigation campuses, and include a timeline, estimated budget, and development process. The department must present the proposal at its January 2027 hearing.

Local governments may form a separate authority to coordinate regional homelessness efforts. The authority may plan, coordinate, and carry out regional strategies. It may contract with the local Continuum of Care organization as its administrator only if that is feasible and the participating governments and organization agree. Cities, towns, cities and counties, and counties may form an authority by agreement; its boundaries must include all participating governments and no others. If the agreement calls for a sales tax, each participating government must submit the tax question to voters. Any approved new tax revenue must be used only for regional homelessness strategies.

A county may direct part of its real estate documentary fee revenue to affordable housing. The county may transfer the designated money to county government or a housing authority to develop, preserve, or acquire affordable housing. The county must exclude the portion used to cover costs of recording and maintaining property records. The housing must be within the county government’s or housing authority’s area, meet demonstrated community needs, and be available to people experiencing homelessness.