Max's Minute | Blogspot

For many Coloradans with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), housing is not simply hard to find. It is hard to find the right kind of housing. Housing that is safe. Housing that is stable. Housing that supports independence while keeping people connected to their community. HB26-1061  exists because people with IDD deserve more than “best effort.” They deserve a clear pathway to real homes in real neighborhoods, with real opportunities to belong. This bill is designed to strengthen community integration housing by aligning Colorado’s affordable housing tax credit process with projects that intentionally serve the IDD community. HB26-1061 focuses on practical outcomes. It creates a targeted priority in Colorado’s administration of affordable housing tax credits for “community integration housing” that serves people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It requires setting aside at least 10 percent of the state’s annual competitive federal Low-Income Housin...

As the Colorado General Assembly convened for the 2025 legislative session, Speaker Julie McCluskie spoke of the importance of prioritizing Colorado’s Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) community in her opening remarks. Her commitment to addressing the needs of this often-overlooked but essential part of our population struck a chord with Representative Max Brooks of House District 45, who shares her passion for supporting this community. Representative Brooks has long been an advocate for the IDD community, recognizing their vital contributions to the social and economic fabric of our state. He has voiced his determination to ensure that this community does not bear the brunt of the state’s budget shortfalls. “The IDD community already faces significant challenges due to limited resources,” Brooks stated. “We cannot allow these individuals and their families to be further marginalized as we work to address Colorado’s fiscal crisis.” The IDD community, which includes ind...