The City of Colorado Springs is seeking community feedback to shape its priorities for federal housing grants over the next five years.

An online survey invites residents to share their thoughts on funding priorities for affordable housing, homelessness prevention, nonprofit support, and neighborhood improvements. This input will guide the city’s 5-year plan for allocating federal funds from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), including Community Development Block Grants, Home Investment Partnerships, and Emergency Solutions Grants.

The city expects to receive $5.2 million annually from HUD, a slight increase from the previous plan’s $4.8 million. However, accounting for inflation, the amount would need to be $9.1 million to match the buying power of 2020, according to a U.S. Bureau of Statistics inflation calculator.

The 2020-2024 plan focused on improving public infrastructure and facilities, but the draft plan for 2025-2029 shifts its emphasis to affordable housing. The Housing Inventory Count shows shelter beds in El Paso County increased from 1,981 in 2020 to 2,331 in 2023, and barriers to shelter have reportedly decreased. Despite these improvements, housing affordability remains a significant challenge.

The plan highlights that nearly 60,000 households in Colorado Springs are paying more than they can afford in rent. Additionally, 18% of renters face monthly rents exceeding $2,000, which would require an annual income of around $91,000 to be considered affordable.

A public hearing in Spanish is scheduled for Jan. 16 at Silver Key on Murray Blvd. at 6:30 p.m., and the online survey will remain open until Jan. 27.

“Our goal is to ensure the community’s voice is heard and reflected in how these funds are prioritized to address housing challenges and neighborhood needs,” city officials emphasized.