Colorado Representative Manny Lutinel has introduced a bill that would allow county clerks and recorders to pay filing fees to fund short-term and long-term housing for the homeless.
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Colorado faces an enormous problem with homelessness, as the number of homeless families in the state is rapidly increasing. 134% increase from 2023 to 2024.
To fill the funding gap for homeless services, Colorado Congressman Manny Lutinel is investing in real estate to help local and state housing agencies build, renovate, and purchase short-term and long-term housing for homeless individuals and families. We proposed that the transfer fee be used.
The bill, Infrastructure Improvements to Reduce Homelessness, would allow county clerks and recorders to set aside filing fees to fund affordable housing projects within their counties. The current statewide document filing fee is 0.01 percent of the property value. That means a $500,000 home purchase will have a $50 fee. A Colorado Fiscal Institute report on real estate transaction taxes estimates that the clerk and recorder’s office collected $10 million in filing fees in 2020 alone.
Rep. Manny Lutinel |Credit: Colorado General Assembly
“As the volume of real estate transactions increases significantly, the price and cost of real estate also increases, impacting the availability and affordability of housing in Colorado,” the bill reads. “Local governments should be allowed to use documentation fees to offset administrative costs associated with recording and maintaining property records and the costs of constructing and maintaining affordable housing.”
In addition to redistributing filing fees, the bill also includes interagency homelessness relief efforts, including the Governor’s Office and Local Affairs, Education, Corrections, Health Policy and Finance, Behavioral Health Administration, Human Services, Public Health, and Medical Departments. They are calling for the creation of a council. Environment and public safety.
The council meets at least once a month to provide up-to-date statistical information on homelessness in the state, and to provide appropriate recommendations for homelessness prevention services, maximizing current housing services, and improving cross-system policies and procedures. We plan to adjust our response accordingly. The interagency council will work with another council of 11 people, including housing advocates, community leaders and formerly homeless people.
The bill requires Congress to submit an annual report containing recommendations for legislative action at the beginning of each regular session.
In several interviews leading up to the bill’s introduction on Jan. 8, Lutinel said much of Colorado’s homelessness problem is due to a lack of funding and a lack of coordination between state agencies, local governments and nonprofits. .
“The hope here is that by working together we can find out where there are inefficiencies, where we can use our resources more effectively, and get even more profit per dollar.” Lutinel told KUNC News.. “We want to make sure that the data we are collecting is used to properly implement programs that are working, and put aside programs that are not working to better meet the needs of these people.” So that we can meet them properly.”
“Unfortunately, if you don’t have the funds set aside to get you through the tough times, or don’t have the infrastructure of family and friends to support you in those moments, you end up on the streets,” he added. .
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