By Jill Gaebler

Special to the Gazette

Colorado Springs is growing. That is not news and is not debatable. We live in a beautiful region, adjacent to the easternmost 14er, our own Pikes Peak, which has drawn settlers here for over 150 years.

And yes, people will continue to arrive, bringing their families, businesses, and cars, and they also will become much-needed taxpayers. These new taxpayers will provide more revenue for public safety and funds to help fix those darned potholes.

But where will all of these new residents live? The answer is they will live wherever they can afford that allows the most expedient commute to their jobs or schools. But this means residents often live far from their jobs, as that is all they can afford. You know, the “drive until you qualify’” rule of thumb that forces so many residents to live far from the necessities they need to promote a high quality of life – one that allows them more time with family or time to enjoy our great outdoors.

These long commutes also harm the rest of us, as residents driving longer distances increase congestion and wear and tear on our already deficient roadways. It also increases pollution and costs our city even more revenue to repair our overused roads.

So what do we do to reduce congestion and improve the quality of life for everyone who lives in Colorado Springs? The answer is to build more lower-cost types of housing in our existing neighborhoods. Our single-family neighborhoods need the addition of homes like duplexes, townhomes, and the occasional cottage court, which places six to 10 homes on a lot with a shared yard. These housing types ensure our neighborhoods keep their existing character, while providing affordable choices for residents who want to raise their families in a neighborhood where they can walk to nearby schools, meet other families and build community.

These are things we all want, and they create so many benefits for families, like child care support, crime reduction, increased physical activity and connection – connection that improves mental health by building relationships and support structures with our neighbors, who become our friends.

Further, providing more housing options in neighborhoods reduces transportation costs, helping families to make ends meet, keep their families stable, and to save the money to buy a home, which is the true American dream.

Ten to 15 years ago, young families spent, on average, 3.5 times their income to purchase their first home. Today, with the skyrocketing cost of housing, young families are spending 5.6 times their income to purchase a home, forcing families to purchase homes later in their lives, if ever. In 2015 the average age of the first-time homebuyer was 31. Today that age is 40. This delay in home purchase is one reason our young people are delaying marriage and families. This data is alarming and also sad, as our younger generations are not able to experience the same benefits of homeownership as previous generations.

These older generations are now the homeowners who often oppose the production of smaller homes in their own neighborhoods. These homeowners should instead be grateful for their good fortune, and pay this fortune forward by supporting our younger residents as they seek the housing that will help them to build stable, connected, and fulfilling lives.

We all want the same things in this life, so let’s work together to help all residents afford a home where they can set down roots and build their lives and their families.

Jill Gaebler is the executive director of the Pikes Peak Housing Network.