Community Recommendations

CU BAHRI is developing a list of recommendations for the community to increase access to affordable, inclusive housing.

Recommendations for community-based change related to Latinx marginalization, racism, and lack of access to housing:

  • Start by recognizing that Latinx people are here!
  • Create a safe, local, neutral place where complaints can be shared.
  • Share resources in multiple places & in both Spanish & English. Embrace word of mouth as a trusted source of referral to resources.
  • Recruit, reward, and retain cultural brokers in local real estate agencies & financial institutions.
  • White realtors cannot objectify the Latinx community & treat them as a source of new revenue.
  • Elect Latinx leaders who know what questions to ask & what data to gather.
  • Provide more guidance for prospective home buyers -- many people and especially people new to the US might not understand the U.S. process & the steps that need to be taken.
  • Professionals in real estate & lending must work together. Streamline the lines of communication.
  • Pressure local agencies to gather data on:
    • Loan-seeking immigrant families,
    • Latinx poverty,Ìý
    • Latinx wealth-building in Â鶹ӰԺ County, &Ìý
    • Latinx homeownership.ÌýÌý
    • The City of Â鶹ӰԺ, the Chamber of Commerce & Â鶹ӰԺ Housing Partners could dedicate resources to gathering this data. They just haven’t yet. The community problem is hiding in plain sight because we have not yet bothered to count.
  • Elect Latinx leaders who DO know what questions to ask & what data to gather.
  • Provide more guidance for prospective home buyers -- immigrants might not understand the US process & the steps that need to be taken.
  • Professionals in real estate & lending must work together and streamline the lines of communication, allowing clients to access resources.
  • Create a safe, local, neutral place where complaints can be shared.
  • Share resources in multiple places & in both Spanish & English. Embrace word of mouth as a trusted source of referral to resources.
  • Recruit, reward, and retain cultural brokers in local real estate agencies & financial institutions.
  • White realtors cannot just objectify the Latinx community & treat them as a source of new revenue. They must care for & be dedicated TO the Latinx community.

Recommendations for local legislation addressing housing affordability:

  • affordable housing coops as housing crisis solutions,Ìý
  • occupancy limit reform,
  • community ownership of manufactured homes (collaboration between the city andÌýthe occupants),Ìý
  • keeping manufactured homes affordable for low-income people,
  • housing more working people in Â鶹ӰԺ to reduce commuting,
  • allowing more of the people who work to make our city as amazing as it is to actually live here andÌýdevote themselves to our community 100% of the time.