The Denver Budget and Policy Committee meeting on January 6, 2025, focused on key issues surrounding affordable housing and public transit access for students. Committee members discussed the importance of affordable housing for staff, faculty, and community members, particularly in relation to the needs of older students, who typically average around 26 years of age.

Affordable housing in this context is defined as housing that is accessible to individuals earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income (AMI). The committee noted that there are currently around 330 affordable housing units available, with plans to add approximately 550 beds for students, effectively doubling the on-campus housing capacity.

Public transit usage among students was another significant topic. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, about 70% of students utilized public transit to commute to school. However, this number has declined due to changes in access to transit passes and other factors related to the pandemic. The committee expressed a desire to restore transit usage to pre-pandemic levels, especially with the introduction of new transit amenities like the Colfax Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.

The discussions highlighted the committee's commitment to addressing housing and transportation challenges for students and the broader community, emphasizing the importance of these issues in supporting educational access and success.