Housing & Our Community | Common Sense Institute

Colorado Housing Quarterly Update

Jul 27, 2022

The cost of housing in Colorado—and particularly the Denver metro area—has made the state an increasingly expensive place to live. Since 2015, the price of housing in metro Denver has exceeded the U.S. average, hindering its regional competitiveness.

The Uncertain Future Cost of Colorado’s Energy Infrastructure and Housing Affordability

Jun 20, 2022

Housing affordability remains a top issue facing Coloradans. With rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, workforce shortages, and complex land-use regulations, the outlook for housing development in the state looks bleak.

Common Sense Institute Policy Brief: Rent Control at Mobile Home Parks

Apr 22, 2022

CSI analyzes HB22-1287: Protections for Mobile Home Park Residents.

Fentanyl’s Increasing Toll on the Colorado Economy

Apr 11, 2022

Although the Opioid Crisis has been an ongoing public health issue since the late 1990’s, Colorado’s policymakers, law enforcement, district attorneys, addiction rehab advocates, and researchers have recently narrowed their focus on Schedule II Controlled Substances and more specifically, fentanyl.

Colorado Housing Affordability Trends

Mar 30, 2022

Colorado is an increasingly expensive place to live. Housing prices are surging, and affordability is decreasing. Though there has been a recent increase in building permits, the current housing supply shortage is so large that the increased construction of new homes must be sustained for years, if not increased, to overcome the shortage.

Update: The Colorado Crime Wave Did Not Recede In 2021 An Economic Analysis of Crime

Mar 27, 2022

The cost of crime in Colorado in 2021 totaled $31B. This was an increase of $3.5B, or 12.9%, from the cost in 2020, primarily driven by the increases in violent crimes.

The Colorado Crime Wave: An Economic Analysis of Crime and the Need for Data Driven Solutions

Dec 9, 2021

The total cost of crime in Colorado exceeded $27 billion in 2020. While costs are disproportionately felt by victims, this implies an average cost per Coloradan of $4,762 per year. The 2021 costs will grow, as the violent crime rate is on pace to be the highest since 1994, a 10% annual increase.

The Economic Footprint of Homelessness in Metro Denver

Nov 4, 2021

Common Sense Institute has partnered with several local organizations and leaders to conduct a three-phase project to understand the many challenges and types of homelessness. This is Phase one of this project and is focused on the current resources dedicated to the homeless in Metro Denver.

Homelessness Ecosystem Analysis Phase 2

Oct 22, 2021

Homelessness is a visible outcome of a system that does not consistently work for everyone. This report is the result of efforts to understand the systemic factors that impact homelessness in the Metropolitan Denver area through a human-centered systems design lens.

Homelessness Issues on the Denver 2021 Ballot: Ordinance 303 and Referred Question 2B

Sep 14, 2021

This November, Denver voters face two ballot measures related to homelessness: Initiated Ordinance 303: “Let’s Do Better” and Referred Question 2B: Denver Housing and Sheltering System Bonds as part of the RISE GO Bond.