Denver City Wire

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) and City Council Member Amanda Sawyer on May 18 celebrated the grand opening of Valor on the Fax, a 72-unit supportive housing community. Developed by Brothers Redevelopment, in conjunction with the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado (BIAC), Valor on the Fax serves persons experiencing homelessness, with a focus on individuals who have sustained an acquired brain injury or related disability.

“Our unhoused neighbors are in the greatest need of stable, supportive housing, and Valor on the Fax will provide hope and stability for generations to come,” Mayor Hancock said. “We are proud to partner with Brothers Redevelopment to help end homelessness for the 72 households that will call the Valor home.”

Located at 7900 E. Colfax Ave., Valor on the Fax is one of two sites acquired by the City and County of Denver in 2017 with the vision of ensuring affordability and community-serving uses along the rapidly-changing corridor. Brothers Redevelopment was selected through a city procurement to develop the property into supportive housing. The property was transferred to Brothers Redevelopment in 2021 through a sale agreement approved by Denver City Council.

“Getting people off the streets and into housing is key to the building of a stronger Denver,” Council Member Sawyer said. “Valor on the Fax adds to the momentum of supportive housing options underway, and this project will surely provide a lifeline for many.”

Valor on the Fax offers 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units that are income restricted for households earning up to 30% of the area median income (up to $24,650 for a single-person household). A land use restriction on the property ensures affordability for 99 years.

The visionary collaboration between Brothers Redevelopment and the Brain Injury Alliance of Colorado has relied on public engagement to conceive the building’s exterior features. The project employs “trauma-informed design” throughout to ensure that the building will offer a therapeutic and comfortable environment to future tenants. BIAC will provide comprehensive services to tenants, including resource navigation, job training, and recreational and wellness activities. Brothers will manage the property and utilize the first-floor commercial space to provide a wide variety of housing-related services to residents of the East Colfax neighborhood.

“Brothers is grateful for the city’s early and ongoing collaboration to bring Valor from a vision through to construction,” said Brothers Redevelopment President Jeff Martinez. “Without the city’s financial commitments and support of concept, we would be unable to house some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

Denver’s Department of Housing Stability (HOST) provided $1,440,000 in development financing toward the $23.6 million project. HOST is also subsidizing supportive services at the site for a 15-year period through a $1 million contract. Other public financing partners include the Colorado Housing & Finance Authority, Colorado Division of Housing, and Denver Housing Authority, including subsidy vouchers for all units to ensure residents pay no more than 30% of their total income on housing costs.

Valor on the Fax is the latest city-supported affordable housing development to begin construction in Denver. A total of 1,870 affordable units that have received city financing are currently under construction at 31 sites throughout Denver. An additional 599 income-restricted units are in the planning stage.

Original source can be found here.