The Denver Housing Authority, the University of Colorado Denver and Metropolitan State University of Denver are collaborating to share resources and develop opportunities for downtown Denver residents, DHA employees, and college students. Focus areas include degree program entry and completion, internship development, and expanding affordable housing options downtown.

Denver, CO, April 26, 2023 – The Denver Housing Authority (DHA) is partnering with University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) and Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) to help residents, DHA employees, and college students looking for housing and jobs in the downtown area.

The organizations signed Memorandums of Understanding that commits each organization to working together to find collectively beneficial opportunities in education, workforce development, and housing that will benefit Denver residents. The Community College of Denver is also talking to DHA about joining the effort. The three higher education institutions reside on the Auraria Campus in downtown Denver, enrolling approximately 40,000 students each year altogether.

“The universities that make up the Auraria Campus are DHA neighbors,” said David Nisivoccia, Chief Executive Officer of DHA. “We see this as an opportunity to collaborate and connect our populations to a variety of opportunities.”

The groups have already started to work on:

• Communicating the many educational options available to low-income residents to complete their degrees or begin their higher education journey.
• Exploring how to create better access with less red tape to work force and job training programs that already exist.
• Brainstorming new programs based on needs communicated from the community.
• Developing potential internship and experiential learning opportunities.
• Expanding affordable housing options in Denver.

“As Colorado’s only public urban research university, we take our role as an anchor institution dedicated to supporting students and the needs of our city and its communities very seriously,” said Anthony E. Graves, CU Denver’s Managing Director of Partnerships, and Innovation. “With this commitment in mind and our aim to create an open innovation district in downtown Denver, we feel a responsibility to work collaboratively with DHA and our neighbors to be strategic about creating affordable and accessible housing options for our students, faculty, and staff.  We are all in this together. Affordable student and workforce housing are critical ingredients to making Denver a great place to live and work and a globally competitive hub for innovation.”

By working together, the institutions recognize that solutions are likely to be more holistic and successful.

Thomas Ragland, MSU Denver’s Associate Dean for Student Accountability and Care shared, “Our institution and campus are excited and energized by this partnership. We envision this opening more avenues for student success, stability, community engagement, and broadening MSU’s commitment and response to the housing crisis facing our city.”

About Denver Housing Authority (DHA)

Denver Housing Authority (“DHA”) is a quasi-municipal corporation with a portfolio of over 13,000 units and housing choice vouchers, providing affordable housing to more than 26,000 very low-, low and middle-income individuals. DHA has transformed public housing in Denver creating vibrant, revitalized, sustainable, transit-oriented, and mixed- income communities of choice. DHA’s vision reflects the goal that every individual or family shall have access to quality and affordable housing, in communities offering empowerment, economic opportunity, and a vibrant living environment. Denver Housing Authority’s mission is to serve the residents of Denver by developing, owning, and operating safe, decent, and affordable housing in a manner that promotes thriving communities. DHA has been creating vibrant communities and sustainable neighborhoods since 1938. For more information, visit www.denverhousing.org.

About the University of Colorado Denver

University of Colorado Denver (CU Denver) offers a modern, comprehensive urban education with multiple paths to success—in life and career—delivered how, when, and where you want it. CU Denver is the state’s premier public urban research university, offering more than 100-degree programs in seven schools and colleges and across a spectrum of bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and professional and continuing education options. Research, internship, and apprenticeship experiences are a hallmark of a CU Denver education, giving learners an excellent education and real-work skills and job experience along the way. Our leading faculty inspires and works alongside students to solve complex challenges through boundary-breaking innovation and impactful research and creative work. As part of the state’s largest university system, CU Denver is a major contributor to the Colorado economy, with 2,000 employees and an annual economic impact of $800 million.

About Metropolitan State University of Denver

Metropolitan State University of Denver (MSU Denver) is a leader in social mobility, committed to fostering equity; all while offering an accessibly excellent experience. As the top transfer destination among Colorado colleges and universities, our students are engaged citizens, making an immediate impact on our workforce and community from the moment they enroll. Our mission is to provide a high-quality, accessible, enriching education that prepares students for successful careers, post-graduate education, and lifelong learning in a multicultural, global, and technological society. That’s possible here. MSU Denver serves a community of over 16,000 students and has over 100,000 proud alumni, most of whom stay in and connected to the Denver area.

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