HB22-1315 provides $1 million in ongoing annual funding for the Colorado 211 Collaborative. 211 is a multilingual and confidential service that connects individuals to critical resources including affordable housing, rental and security deposit assistance, utility assistance, food resources, legal services, medical services, and so much more. The 211 database contains more than 7,000 health and human resources and is updated daily to help community members meet basic needs.

Why it matters:

Last year, 211 received over 100,000 calls from our neighbors needing help and support. The top needs for families are rental and utility assistance, income support assistance, access to food resources, and housing/shelter support.

“Knowing where to go for help can be difficult and overwhelming. Funding for 211 Colorado will help connect Coloradans across the state to local community resources. Our community needs to be connected to these resources. In addition to state general funds, Colorado’s 211 budget will be funded with over $3 million in foundation and individual contributions creating a sustainable public-private partnership.” – Wade Treichler, Chief Operations Officer, Mile High United Way

SB22-008 will provide much-needed post-secondary financial aid to students who have been in foster care or noncertified kinship care. 

Why it matters:

36% of former foster youth have experienced homelessness at least once by age 26. Today, we can rewrite the story for these young adults by increasing their access to education and career development to ensure their economic stability.

Early evidence suggests that foster students who receive financial assistance for post-secondary education are 3.5 times more likely to graduate college than those who do not.

Colorado was one of just 15 states that does not provide state tuition support to foster youth. This additional financial aid will help hundreds more Colorado students access college or post-secondary training programs.

SB22-213 provides funding for a variety of early childhood programs and creates an advisory group and training program for family, friend, and neighbor providers. The total funding is $50 million from federal pandemic relief funds and $50 million from the federal Child Care Development Block Grant.

The money will be appropriated as follows:

• Employer-Based Child Care ($10 million): This program works alongside employers to design and construct childcare facilities on- or near-site to its employees
• Emerging & Expanding Child Care ($16 million): Eligible childcare programs can apply for grants for expenses to expand the number of slots or the opening of a new program, with a specific focus on investing in areas of the state considered childcare deserts, along with the supports to navigate renovations and/or facility improvements.
• Family, Friend, & Neighbor (FFN) Training ($7.5 million): More than half of young children in Colorado are cared for by this critical part of the childcare community, known as “FFN.” This strategy will scale research- and community-informed training programs, and create connections to workforce opportunities and critical resources.
• Early Childhood Recruitment & Retention ($15 million): This program provides grants and scholarships to early childhood professionals across early care and education, home visiting, early intervention, and mental health consultation.
• Home Visiting for Early Learning ($1 million): Creates the Home Visiting for Early Learning grant program.

Why it matters:

This bill supports our state’s childcare workforce. It also expands care for Colorado children, which helps families return to the workforce while providing safe, high-quality spaces for our youngest learners.