LAKEWOOD, CO – Metro West Housing Solutions (MWHS), the official housing authority for the City of Lakewood, celebrates its 50th anniversary in June 2024.
Established on June 10, 1974, Lakewood City Council created the Lakewood Housing Authority to meet the need for “safe, affordable, and sanitary homes” for residents.
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) are quasi-governmental entities, some of which have taken an entrepreneurial approach to increasing the supply of affordable housing. Many operate their own real estate development departments and manage affordable rental homes in addition to federally funded programs such as Housing Choice Vouchers.
In many Colorado communities, the local housing authority is the primary developer and manager of affordable housing.
“People often think of a public housing authority as just a recipient of public funding. What many don’t realize is the impact PHAs have on local economies through non-federal funds such as housing development and property management in addition to community and federally funded housing assistance,” said Tami Fischer, CEO of MWHS. “As the housing authority for the City of Lakewood, we are committed to high-quality investments and are focused on financial viability and the social well-being and resiliency of our community. We continually reinvest all funds generated by the housing authority into our communities.”
Since 2003, when MWHS built its first Low-Income Housing Tax Credit property (LIHTC) property, MWHS has brought in more than $143 million in private equity investments into the Lakewood economy.
Private equity investments have generated over $288 million into our community through jobs in construction, architecture, development, retail support and more.
MWHS has supported local landlords with over $307 million in rental payments through the Housing Assistance Program over the past 50 years. Moreover, many who receive housing assistance work in service industries as wait staff, retail workers, mechanics, or even teachers, ensuring Lakewood has the service staff needed to remain a vibrant, diverse community.
In addition, MWHS employs approximately 100 people in good, well-paying jobs that provide a career path in an industry that often promotes from within.
“MWHS takes tremendous pride in developing and maintaining attractive, sustainable, clean, and safe communities for our residents and supporting a strong economy in Lakewood,” said Fischer. “We believe everyone deserves to live in a beautiful and vibrant environment they can be proud of, regardless of economic status. We look forward to remaining a fiscally responsible, affordable housing provider and continuing our long history of investing – socially and financially – in our community.”
About Metro West Housing Solutions
Metro West Housing Solutions, established in 1974, is a leader in providing quality affordable housing and transformative opportunities for people and communities. As the official housing authority of Lakewood, MWHS owns and manages apartments in Lakewood and Denver, provides Housing Choice Vouchers (formerly Section 8) to eligible Lakewood residents and facilitates a wide range of human services to support our communities’ strengths, culture, and diversity. MWHS has acquired and developed 1,658 affordable and LIHTC units, manages 1,254 HCVs and has housed over 30,000 individuals and families. For more information, visit mwhs.org
