Making headway in a storm

CCLP annual report 2024-2025

Letter from Lydia McCoy, CEO

Living in interesting times

Lydia McCoy

This isn’t the time for sugarcoating.

In the past year we’ve watched an unprecedented onslaught on the rights of all Americans, with particular focus on those who our society has long marginalized — immigrants, disabled people, and all those struggling to make ends meet. We’ve watched, seemingly helpless at times, as major wins of the past have been rolled back, often for no other reason than greed or abject cruelty.

At times, changes at the federal level have felt personal to us here at CCLP. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced that not only would they be erasing the medical debt reporting protections we helped to enact last year, but that they now also consider such rules at the state level to be illegal overreach. As I write this letter, our opponents in the debt industry are filing suit to undo the significant good Colorado’s first-in-the-nation law accomplished since its passing. If they succeed, Coloradans will have a harder time finding housing, credit, insurance and even employment, despite the well-established fact that holding medical debt is not an indicator of creditworthiness.

The federal spending bill HR-1, cynically nicknamed the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” or OBBBA, handed irresponsible tax cuts to the wealthiest while gutting Medicaid funding to the states. Supporters falsely claimed that the cuts were “saving Medicaid for those who need it.” This is a false narrative meant to justify cruel acts. These changes are an attack on the very concept of a social safety net and our shared humanity as a nation.

Here in Colorado, HR-1 exacerbated an already dire budget situation. KFF News estimates a loss of funding to our state to the tune of $14 billion over the next ten years. This loss triggered a late summer special session to make deep cuts across many of the basic services and programs we expect a functioning state to provide, followed by the budget proposal by Governor Polis which harms Medicaid recipients, medical providers and Coloradans at large. Reduced reimbursements are expected to result in the closures of many of the clinics, nursing homes, and behavioral health facilities that we all depend upon.

Colorado’s budget has long been hamstrung by the restrictions of the Colorado Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR), which enshrines our flat tax in the state constitution and limits the amount of revenue the state can accept even in the best of times. We’re not in the best of times now, and TABOR’s short-sighted formulas mean we must cut everything to the bone to stay within a growth cap that has no relationship with the actual cost of running the state. As always, it is those most struggling among us who will be forced to bear the burden of the funding gap.

The question is: what are we to do about it? What can we do about it?

We keep fighting. It is our obligation to our neighbors and ourselves to double down on advocating for the needs of Coloradans — strategically, and with the knowledge that there are always ways to make headway, even in a Colorado snowstorm.

The staff at CCLP recently published a case study looking back on the work we have done since the end of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. For years now, we’ve listened to the actual pain points of the people most impacted by the unwind of the Medicaid expansion, dug into the root causes, and fought to change outcomes that were unacceptable. This advocacy work, bringing together our deep legal and research capacities to make a difference, helped regain Medicaid coverage for tens of thousands of disabled Coloradans who had been improperly disenrolled.

We made progress even when the problems looked too big and complex to solve. And now we’re sharing what worked in the face of this catastrophe, so that other advocates across the nation can replicate the approach and fix similar systemic problems created by HR-1, executive orders from the Trump administration, and other devastating policy changes. We are applying our own lessons learned to community-led solutions for navigating the new work requirements on public benefits, engaging people at all levels of the process in creating an implementation plan that reduces harm and sets us up for success on the other side.

We are already well into planning for next year’s regular session of the Colorado General Assembly, identifying opportunities for legislative change despite the budgetary constraints. In 2025, 36 of the 58 bills we supported passed, a 69% success rate which is a huge win in a severe deficit environment.

We’re also very excited to co-lead a new project to try to directly address the budget crisis inflicted by TABOR. As part of the Protecting Colorado’s Future coalition, CCLP is developing options for ballot measures that would return Colorado to a progressive income tax, moving away from the folly of the flat tax that has starved Colorado for over 30 years. Our opposition insists that Coloradans will never support progressive taxation, but as the evidence of TABOR’s failures mount, we have reason to believe that a change is within our grasp.

To this end, we’ve conducted extensive focus groups and survey testing on the subjects of taxation and public programs. We want to understand how to earn the trust and support of Coloradans on such a measure, so that this effort might pass where so many attempts to change our tax laws have failed. The results might surprise you: in the face of the budget crisis, even many traditionally tax-averse conservatives in Colorado support increasing taxes on those who can most afford them. We believe there is political will in Colorado, against the darkness of our national politics, to make change here that will benefit all Coloradans for generations to come.

One of the internet’s favorite curses is “May you live in interesting times.” We are certainly living in them now. But the flipside is that interesting times are also the points at which opportunities exist for real transformation. Don’t get me wrong: so much of what we’ve taken for granted as Americans is now up for grabs, and that has led to untold misery for so many of our neighbors, friends and families. We cannot understate the harms being perpetrated every day. But in this moment, when so many rules are being broken, we have an opportunity to reenvision the rules of the game — for the better. Nothing is off the table. We can, and we must, fight to regain ground. To advance, even. We must envision a better tomorrow and strategically design our path to get there.

I believe CCLP is uniquely positioned to rise to the occasion. We have the legal chops, the public benefits expertise, and our long-cultivated perspective at the intersection of the causes and symptoms of poverty in Colorado. We continue to strengthen our ties with the communities we serve and our courageous organizational partners, and we commit to doing everything we can to elevate the voices of targeted communities.

To make the most of the road ahead, I humbly ask for your continued support. I am grateful for the trust you have placed in this hardworking and brilliant team. The difference you make by supporting our work is felt by people across our state, and we need you in this fight now more than ever.

Nonprofits like CCLP are being targeted by the federal government because this work is where real power lies. I won’t sugarcoat the challenges we have ahead of ourselves in the coming year. It’s going to be hard work, and there will be setbacks. But with your partnership, I believe 2026 is going to be monumental in our shared fight for the rights of all Coloradans.

Lydia McCoy
Chief Executive Officer
Colorado Center on Law and Policy

About CCLP

CCLP is an anti-poverty organization advancing the rights of every Coloradan.

We believe in the rights of every Coloradan, not just those with the means to ensure them. And we define Coloradan broadly. If you make this state your home, you’re one of us. We’re happy you’re here, and we’re ready to work alongside you in the fight for economic justice.

CCLP Team

Our vision: A Colorado in which everyone has what they need to succeed

It’s a big vision, and we know the journey to get there is bigger than any one individual or organization. That’s why CCLP’s mission goes beyond the hard work we do every day, to see ourselves in the context of the wider coalition of communities, legislators, citizens, and partner organizations that fight against poverty in Colorado.

Our contribution to this fight is our application of multiple professional disciplines, our tools which we seek to apply to the challenges of anti-poverty work in accordance with our core values.

Our values

Equity

The barriers to success being higher for certain groups, it is our duty to advance laws and policies that address those wrongs so everyone can have what they need to succeed.

Integrity

We are deliberate and ethical in our work to ensure our results are reliable, unbiased, grounded in fact and driven by our mission to end poverty.

Strategic advocacy

Lasting social change requires smart policy work. We apply research, legislative and legal expertise, relationship-building, and collaboration to advance and implement our agenda.

Collaboration

We know we are but one small part of a big movement to eliminate poverty. We honor the combined strength that comes from trusted relationships, shared knowledge and teamwork.

Community engagement

People burdened by poverty and discrimination know what must change. We seek to understand their ideas, honor their priorities, grow their leadership, and increase their agency to drive system change.

Our tools

Research & policy analysis

We inform policy dialogue by diving into the data, listening to Coloradans, and understanding the challenges so that we can help identify transformative solutions.

Legislative advocacy

We actively build support for the policies that can make real differences in the lives of low-income individuals and families.

Legal advocacy

We pursue legal action when the system fails those who lack the resources or the direct access to the levers of change to address the burdens they face.

Coalition building

We nourish and cultivate strong and effective partnerships throughout Colorado, fighting poverty and advancing equity through the power of numbers, informed by the insights of the diverse perspectives that make up this movement.

CCLP in the News

Thursday, November 20, 2025

CCLP online, in print, and on the air

Skillful worker stand together showing teamwork in the factory .

DENVER, CO — 2025 proved to be another banner year in news coverage for our work, with over 50 media hits since the start of the year. Once again, CCLP was visible across the state and across the country, on television and in print media.

That number soars over 100 when including news coverage of our Protect Colorado’s Future (PCF) coalition and its efforts to pass a ballot measure reintroducing a progressive income tax to Colorado in 2026.

We’re happy to share that not all of our coverage was positive this year! When you’re working to change the status quo you’re going to make a few enemies.

The response to the launch of PCF in particular saw a broad attack from special interest groups across major media and local blogs alike.

A critical article in Forbes magazine, written by anti-tax activists, indicates just how worried our opposition is about the efforts of our coalition.

By far the largest driver of CCLP coverage, however, was our expertise on the impact of Trump administration executive orders and the irresponsible Medicaid cuts of HR-1.

Behind the scenes, CCLP staff provided expertise, introductions to people with lived experience, and extensive background information for reporters. The groundbreaking New York Times investigative piece on the county-by-county impact of federal cuts in Colorado is just one of the major stories we supported.

Face recognition and personal identification technologies in street surveillance cameras, law enforcement control. crowd of passers-by with graphic elements. Privacy and personal data protection,

Biggest year yet for CCLP publications

On CCLP’s own website, 2025 was a year for the record books, with more news posts and publications than ever before in CLCP history.

Since the start of the year, CCLP staff have published 40 news articles on everything from algorithmic surveillance to TABOR, and from tipped wages to leaving the website formerly known as Twitter.

But 2025 also saw CCLP’s most expansive research output to-date, with more reports, issue briefs, guides and fact sheets than ever before. The long-awaited debt study, a multi-year effort led by CCLP visiting scholar Lois Lupica, published in June, while Litigation Director Annie Martínez released a legal analysis of the end of the Supreme Court’s Chevron Deference.

In all, 12 reports have published thus far, with a 13th expected before the end of the year.

 

CCLP by the numbers

Bills CCLP took positions on in 2025

Success rate, in percent, of 2025 bills signed into law (36 out of 58 passed, 4 vetoed)

Bills CCLP staff testified on at the Colorado Capitol in 2025

Reports, guides and issue briefs published in 2025

Registrants and tickets sold to CCLP events in 2025

News stories covering the work of CCLP and the Protect Colorado's Future coalition in 2025

Preventing the Elimination of No-Cost Health Coverage

In February 2025, CCLP partnered with 46 other organizations to file an amicus brief in the Kennedy v. Braidwood Supreme Court case, in the effort to protect access to free, preventive services for nearly 151 million people across the United States. The amicus brief argues that:

  1. Eliminating no-cost coverage substantially decreases consumer utilization of preventative services.
  2. There is no guarantee that employers will voluntarily provide no-cost coverage
  3. Medicaid beneficiaries could potentially lose coverage.
  4. Removal of these services would promote the occurrence of serious diseases.

Read more about the 47 partner organizations that contributed to the amicus brief here at United States of Care and read the amicus brief in full here.

Authoritarian Surveillance

In June 2025, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began to provide personal health data of Emergency Medicaid enrollees to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to locate specific individuals. Further, a request would be made to Colorado’s Medicaid program for the very same data.

Dr. Annie Martinez, Esq., CCLP’s Litigation Director, had blunt words to address the issue stating, “this data request is not about health or program integrity – it’s about authoritarian surveillance. Public health data must never be used to criminalize sickness, poverty, or immigration status.”

Nevertheless, Colorado’s Department of Health Care Policy and Financing saw it necessary to continue review of the initial request. In turn, several organizations joined CCLP in voicing their concern over “the violation of constitutional and statutory obligations to safeguard resident data against federal overreach.”

CCLP’s own Bethany Pray, Esq., Chief Legal and Policy Officer, noted not only the legal implications, but also the moral detriment of fulling such a request: “Turning private health data over to federal law enforcement will erode trust in public systems, deter families from seeking care, and directly undermine Colorado’s laws and values.”

Dr. Martinez pointed out a chilling potential for a new precedent under our current administration by noting that “Once a justification for sharing with an agency [is created], a federal agency that has nothing to do with the delivery of health care, how do you not apply that justification to any other agency?”

Read more about this issue here at Fox 31 News and Colorado Public Radio.

 

SPOTLIGHT: Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Also in June of this year, a 19 year old University of Utah student was stopped by Investigator Alexander Zwinck, of the Mesa County police, in Fruita, Colorado for following a semi-trailer too closely. The student was asked where she was from, released with a warning, and then stopped and detained by federal immigration officers a few miles down the road, to be transferred to a federal immigration detention facility in Aurora, Colorado. This student, Caroline Dias Goncalves, had arrived in the United States from Brazil when she was 7 years old and had a pending asylum application.

Ultimately, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) released a statement revealing that Zwinck had shared information about Dia Goncalves through a multi-agency law enforcement group chat used for drug interdiction. Federal representatives, allegedly, further shared the information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. MSCO also noted the illegality of this transfer of information, as it violates several Colorado statutes.

“Colorado has taken important steps over the past several years to disentangle local law enforcement from ICE, to ensure that all Coloradans — regardless of immigration status — can feel safe driving, going to school, or seeking help in an emergency,” said Dr. Annie Martinez, Litigation Director of CCLP. “When these laws are ignored, it’s not just a policy failure — it’s a violation of community trust and a threat to public safety.”

Read more about this issue here at RawStory and Western Slope Now.

Standing up for patients and families

One of the final acts of the Biden Administration in January was the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s shift to remove medical debt from credit reports across the country. CCLP staff had testified in Washington in support of this rule change which was inspired by the groundbreaking law we helped to pass here in Colorado in 2023. This move allowed those saddled with medical debt a chance at normalcy as the damage done to one’s credit report from large sums of debt can make it difficult to attain housing, transportation, and even employment.

Unfortunately, as with so many federal agency rule changes this year, the current administration has overturned the rule, and in this case went so far as to reject the constitutionality of similar laws at the state level.

Healthcare providers are notorious for their unrelenting pursuit of payment. Which is all the more concerning when “credit reports are often inaccurate,” according to Bethany Pray, Chief Legal Policy Officer at CCLP. “Medical debt that used to appear on someone’s credit report might actually be related to a bill that you’ve paid or it might be a duplicate bill.” Further, Pray notes that “having medical debt is not an indication that someone is a poor credit risk.”

While we’re still in the early days of this U-turn from the Trump CFPB, the debt industry is already gearing up to attempt to overturn Colorado’s law in the courts.

There’s Nothing Beautiful About This Bill

And, in July 2025, Senate Republicans passed the Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill.” This bill includes $4.5 trillion in tax cuts, inflating federal deficits by an estimated $3.3 trillion, de-funding Medicaid by approximately $1 trillion, and dismantling clean energy policies. All of this, passing by one vote.

Governor Jared Polis issued a statement indicating that substantial financial costs and changes would be coming for programs like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid. Meanwhile, United States Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado simply called the bill “pure lunacy.”

As of July 2025, KFF, a nonpartisan healthcare think tank, estimates that Colorado will lose $11 billion in federal Medicaid spending over the next 10 years. 155,000 residents stand to lose their health coverage by 2034.

“There’s nothing beautiful about this bill,” Lydia McCoy, CEO of CLP, said in a statement addressing this turn of events. “Medicaid recipients will lose access to the health care that keeps them alive, and hospitals across rural Colorado will close their doors for lack of funding. The cruelty of this legislation is exceeded only by its short-sightedness.” Read more about this issue here at The Denver Post.

Workers and wages

Always Double-Check the Data

In March 2025, a state House committee passed a bill allowing local governments to control how tipped workers are paid. This bill was ultimately a compromise that led to Colorado’s tipped credit of $3.02 not changing at all, leaving the tipped minimum wage (or “sub-minimum wage”) intact.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released data from the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, which depicted a 9.1% drop of full-service restaurants from early 2023 and to September 2024. The BLS stated that this “confirms that Denver’s restaurant industry has experienced a rapid decline that sets it apart from comparable cities.” Charles Brennan, CCLP’s Director of Income and Housing Policy, took a second look at the data and compared with the population of the city and then other counties within the state.

He found that “Minimum wage increases have undoubtedly led to increased labor costs for employers and a whole host of other costs have also gone up creating challenges for restaurant owners not just in Denver, [however,] I think what we can look at are other statistics, things like unemployment numbers, unemployment insurance claims and others to give us a better sense of what the economy is doing. When we look at those numbers, we don’t see these massive swings or major spikes that could indicate some sort of issue or challenge.”

Read more on this issue at the Colorado Sun.

…Try, Try Again

After Governor Polis vetoed a similar wage theft bill in 2024, sponsors brought another bill to the legislature in 2025, even widening its scope beyond the original bill. This time, the Governor signed it into law.

Wage theft costs Colorado-based workers approximately $728 million a year. Under the new law, the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment has greater ability to address claims of wage theft, not only in the construction industry (the focus of the 2024 bill), but across all industries.

This change to the bill was applauded publicly by CCLP’s Policy Analyst, Chris Nelson. He noted that, “Accommodations, food services and retail businesses account for more than 40% of wage theft cases.” With public sentiment aligning with workers, Nelson says, “the public accountability piece… meets the public where the public is.”

Read more about this issue at The Denver Post.

CCLP Celebrates Partners in Progress

Late summer marked the launch of our new annual summer soiree: Partners in Progress. We invited fellow antipoverty advocates, community leaders, and partners of CCLP to build connections, reflect on shared accomplishments, and offer our deepest appreciation for those who work alongside us and make our work possible.

This event was a bright ray of sunshine amidst a challenging year for antipoverty advocacy, and we’re grateful that so many members of our community joined us for this event.

Colorado Center on Law and Policy

Statements of financial position 2023 & 2024

December 31

2024

2023

Assets

    Current assets:

       Cash and cash equivalents $ 985,435 $ 777,053
       Investments – bonds and CD 582,014 313,522
       Grants and contributions receivable, current portion 619,500 577,670
       Prepaids 19,522 5,116
           Total current assets 2,206,471 1,673,361

    Long-term assets:

       Deposit 7,850 7,850
       Grants and contributions receivable, net of current portion and discounts 362,618 368,881
        Right of use assets – operating, net 847,490 947,547
           Total other assets 1,217,958 1,324,305
            Total assets $ 3,424,429 $ 2,997,666

Liabilities and net assets

    Current liabilities:

       Accounts payable $ 66,912 $ 102,808
       Accrued expenses 10,260 3,289
      Current portion of lease liability – operating 149,477 160,241
           Total current liabilities 266,649 266,338

    Long-term liabilities:

   
        Lease liability – operating, net of current portion 698,013 787,333
            Total long-term liabilities 698,013 787,333
            Total liabilities 924,662 1,053,671

    Net assets:

       Without donor restriction 1,358,267 930,757
       With donor restriction 1,141,500 1,013,238
           Total net assets 2,499,767 1,943,995
           Total liabilities and net assets $ 3,424,429 $ 2,997,666

Financial positions 2023, 2024

Statements of financial activity, 2023 & 2024

For the year ended December 31, 2024 with summarized comparative totals for 2023 (restated)

Without
donor
restrictions

With donor restrictions

2024
Total

2023
Summarized

Revenue and support:

    Grants and contributions $ (162,100) $ 3,150,484 $ 2,988,384 $ 1,958,330
    Fiscal sponsorship income 66,134
    Special event income 8,026 8,026 9,715
    Lease income 9,700 9,700 4,000
    In-kind contributions 3,000 3,000 560
    Other income 6,064 6,064 30
    Released from restrictions 3,022,222 (3,022,222)
Total revenue and support 2,886,912 128,262 3,015,174 2,038,769

Functional expenses:

    Program services 2,206,407 2,206,407 2,699,369
    Management and general 141,276 141,276 123,002
    Fundraising 128,301 128,301 94,226
Total functional expenses 2,475,984 2,475,984 2,916,597
Change in net assets from operating activities 410,928 128,262 539,190 (877,828)

Non-operating income (expense):

    Dividends and Interests 16,642 16,642 15,603
    Interest expense (1,975)
    Miscellaneous expense (60) (60) (2,020)
Change in net assets from non-operating activities 16,582 16,582 11,608
Change in net assets 427,510 128,262 555,772 (866,220)
Net assets at beginning of year as previously reported 930,757 1,013,238 1,943,995 2,720,107
Prior period adjustment* 90,108
Net assets at beginning of year as restated 930,757 1,023,238 1,943,995 2,810,215
Net assets at end of year $ 1,358,267 $ 1,141,500 $ 2,499,767 $ 1,943,995

*Note: The 2023 audited financial statements have been adjusted to reflect $90,108 more in contribution receivables and revenues related to a reimbursement grant. The expenses were recognized for this same amount in the prior year; thus, contribution receivables and revenues have been adjusted to match the expense recognition. This adjustment caused the prior year net assets to increase by $90,108.

Philanthropic Partners 2023 & 2024

Foundations, partners and funds

9to5 Colorado

Aloha Foundation

Annie E. Casey Foundation

BAIRD

Beanstalk Foundation

Bridge Legal Solutions, LLC.

Buell Foundation

Caring for Colorado

Center for Health Progress

Clean Slate Initiative

Colorado Access

Colorado Children’s Campaign

Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Colorado Community Health Network

Colorado Consumer Health Initiative

Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Colorado Lawyer Trust Account Foundation

Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights

Community Catalyst, Inc

Community Foundation of Boulder County

Denver Office of Economic Development & Opportunity

Diverse Talent

Ensign-Bickford Foundation

FORTH Mobility

Hopewell Fund

Interfaith Alliance of Colorado

Chambers Initiative

Michaels Energy

National Health Law Program

National Skills Coalition

Paul M. Angell Family Foundation

PB and K Family Foundation

Rose Community Foundation

The Colorado Health Foundation

The Colorado Trust

The Denver Foundation

The Humphreys Foundation

The Jay and Rose Phillips Family Foundation of Colorado

Wheeler Trigg O’Donnell Foundation

CCLP Board of Directors

You may have noticed some new faces on our board in the last year! CCLP’s Board of Directors has changed over time, with long-time friends of CCLP reaching the ends of their terms and new members taking their places. What hasn’t changed is the deep thoughtfulness, broad perspectives, and strong support of those who guide and oversee the work of our organization.

Beatriz Bonnet

Chair

Beatriz Bonnet

Lynn Borup

Vice Chair & Secretary

Lynn Borup

Carole Brite

Treasurer

Carole Brite, CPA

Matthew Baca

Member

Mathew Baca

Thomas Davidson

Member

Thomas Davidson

Daneya Esgar

Member

Daneya Esgar

Ariana Flores

Member

Ariana Flores

Ama Fernandez Frank

Member

Ana Fernandez Frank

Tom Brinegar

Member

Tom Brinegar

Miriam Goetzke

Member

Miriam Goetzke

Nicholas Heimann

Member

Nicholas Heimann

John T. Lee

Member

John T. Lee

Jose L. Vasquez

Member

Jose L. Vasquez, Esq.

Individual donors, 2023 & 2024

CCLP would not be able to do the work we do without the generous support of our individual philanthropists.

  • Taishya Adams

    Phyllis Albritton

    Kristin Alexander

    Sandra Anderson

    Bridget Anshus

    Deb Armbruster

    Katy Arnold

    Jonathan Asher

    Jocelyn Ault – In Honor of Don Burnes

    Matthew Baca

    Erika Barnum

    Morgan Baskall

    Elizabeth Baskett

    Keri Batchelder

    Jordan Bates-Rogers

    Frederick Baumann

    David Becher

    Caryn Becker

    Robert Benson

    Ronald Binz

    Pam Bisceglia

    Christy Blakely

    Beatriz Bonnet

    Lynn Borup

    Charles Brennan

    Pam Brier

    Steve Briggs

    Tom Brinegar

    Carole Brite

    Kristin Bronson

    Debra Brown

    Laura Buhs

    Donald & Lynn Burnes

    David Bye

    Bruce A. Campbell

    Christiane Citron

    Bonnie Lang Clarke

    Sandra Collins

    Brittany Cornell

    Isabel Cruz

    Dorothy Davidson

    Peter Dawson

    Paul Day-Lucore

    Mark Deschamp

    Monica DeWitt

    Tom Dickson

    Heidi Eastman

    Margaret Elmer

    Charles Elmer

    Robert H Farley Jr.

    Maureen Farrell-Stevenson

    Austin Fearn

    Adela Flores-Brennan

    Lauren Folkerts

    William Ford

    Adam Fox

    Andrew Franklin

    Lorena Garcia

    Walter Garnsey

    Michael Gegen

    Caleb Goerke

    Miriam Goetzke

    Norman D. Haglund

    Jessica Hansen

    Laurie A Harvey

    Paul Heberling

    Nicholas Heimann

    Sigrid H Higdon

    Arlene Hoffman

    Vanessa Hofmann

    Martha J Karnopp

    Keith Kegley

    Nora Kelly

    Ross Kelman

    Helene Kent

    Charlie Kestler

    Jennifer Kladstrup

    April-Dawn Knudsen

    Esso Leete

    Claire Levy

    Kimberly Kim Lord

    Juanita Luevano

    Margaretha Maloney

    Susan Marine

    Lydia McCoy

    Alex McCready

    Alex McHenry

    Pamela McKenzie

    Chris Miller

    Joel Minor

    Phia Mitnick

    Meagan Moodie

    Liane Morrison

    Norman Mueller

    Burt Nadler

    Paul Neumann

    Caroline Nutter

    Sharon O’Hara

    Debby Osborne

    Katie Pachen-Jacobson

    Chester F Pauls

    Jeffrey Pearson

    Julie Pecaut

    David William Pilkenton

    Linda Plaut

    Elaine Podell

    Diana Poole

    Fredrick Powers

    Bethany Pray

    Christine Quinlan

    Nicole Rajpal

    Jack Regenbogen

    Julie Reiskin

    John M RIley

    Chardele Chaer Robert

    Benjamin Rodgers

    Anya Rose

    Lawrence Rossini

    Eric Rothaus

    David Ruchman

    Nedra San Filippo

    Jill Schneider

    Paula Schriefer

    Trisha Sellers

    Peter Severson

    Elizabeth Liz Seyfarth Black

    James Shaw

    Shari Shink

    Jon Sirkis

    David Skaggs

    Anne Slichter

    Kathy Smith

    Galia Spychalska

    Helen R Stone

    Ray Stranske

    Rebecca Taylor

    T.A. Taylor-Hunt

    Priya Telang

    Mary Ann Thompson

    Jose Torres-Vega

    Jean Townsend

    Heather Tritten

    Lara Van Matre

    Jose L. Vasquez, Esq.

    Rosa Marie Vergil Garcia

    Ed Victor

    Gabriella Visani

    Larry Volmert

    Lisa Ward

    Maureen Welch

    Andrew West

    Alexis Whitman

    Aubrey Wilde

    Barbara Yondorf

HEALTH:
HEALTH FIRST COLORADO (MEDICAID)

Health First Colorado is the name given to Colorado’s Medicaid program. Medicaid provides public, low-cost health insurance to qualifying adults and children. It is an entitlement program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. Those who are required to pay must pay a small co-pay when receiving certain health care services.

State Department: Department of Health Care Policy and Financing

Eligibility: Most adults 18 to 64 are eligible for Medicaid in Colorado if their household income is at or below 133% of the federal poverty limit (FPL). Pregnant women are eligible with incomes of up to 195% FPL, while children under 18 may be eligible if the live in a household with income at or below 142% FPL. Some adults over 65 may also be eligible for Medicaid.

Program Benefits: Through Medicaid, low-income Coloradans are eligible for a range of health care services at little to not cost. Services provided include doctors visits, prescription drugs, mental health services, and dental care. Co-pays for certain individuals may be needed for certain services.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds our Medicaid program through state and federal dollars. Medicaid is an entitlement program, which means that all who are eligible for Medicaid can access the program, regardless of the funding level in a given year. This does not mean that it is always easy to access Medicaid, even when eligible. And since the program is administered by counties, funding levels for county staff and other administrative roles can make it easier or harder for Coloradans to access the program. On top of this, not all medical providers accept Medicaid which limits the ability of Coloradans to seek health services even if enrolled, such as if the nearest provider is a 2+ hour drive away.

Note: This data is from before the pandemic and does not reflect changes in enrollment rules during the COVID-19 pandemic and public health emergency.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 89.0% of the population at or below 133% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for Medicaid) were enrolled in Medicaid in Colorado.

FOOD SECURITY:
SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SNAP)

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP helps low-income Coloradans purchase food by providing individuals and families with a monthly cash benefit that can be used to buy certain foods. SNAP is an entitlement program that is funded by the federal and state governments and administered by counties in Colorado.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: Currently, Coloradans qualify for SNAP if they have incomes below 200% FPL, are unemployed or work part-time or receive other forms of assistance such as TANF, among other eligibility criteria. Income eligibility for SNAP was different during the study period of this report than today—it was 130% FPL back in 2019 for example. The US Department of Agriculture uses the population at or below 125% FPL when calculating the Program Access Index (or PAI) for SNAP. We follow this practice in our analysis despite Colorado currently having a higher income eligibility threshold.

Program Benefits: SNAP participants receive a monthly SNAP benefit that is determined by the number of people in their household and their income. Benefit amounts decrease as income increases, helping households avoid a sudden loss of SNAP when their incomes increase, even by a minor amount. Benefits are provided to an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to purchase eligible food items, such as fruits and vegetables; meat, poultry, and fish; dairy products; and breads and cereals. Other items, such as foods that are hot at their point of sale, are not allowable purchases under current SNAP rules.

Program Funding and Access: SNAP, like Medicaid, is a federal entitlement program. This means that Colorado must serve any Coloradan who is eligible for the program. As such, funding should not be a limit to how many Coloradans can be served by the program. However, funding for administration of SNAP at the state and county level can limit the ability of county human service departments to enroll those who are eligible. Other program rules and administrative barriers can make it difficult for Coloradans to receive the benefits they are legally entitled to receive.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 61.1% of the population at or below 125% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for SNAP) were enrolled.

FOOD SECURITY:
SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, also know as WIC, provides healthcare and nutritional support to low-income Coloradans who are pregnant, recently pregnant, breastfeeding, and to children under 5 who are nutritionally at risk based on a nutrition assessment.

State Department: Department of Public Health and Environment

Eligibility: To participate in WIC you must be pregnant, pregnant in the last six months, breastfeeding a baby under 1 year of age, or a child under the age of 5. Coloradans do not need to be U.S. citizens to be eligible for WIC. In terms of income, households cannot have incomes that exceed 185% FPL. Families who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), or Medicaid are automatically eligible for WIC. Regardless of gender, any parents, foster parents, or caregivers are able to apply for and use WIC services for eligible children.

Program Benefits: WIC provides a range of services to young children and their parents. These include funds to purchase healthy, fresh foods; breastfeeding support; personalized nutrition education and shopping tips; and referrals to health care and other services participants may be eligible for.

Program Funding and Access: WIC is funded by the US Department of Agriculture. The state uses these federal funds to contract with local providers, known as WIC Clinics. In most cases, these are county public health agencies, but that is not the case in all Colorado counties. Some WIC Clinics cover multiple counties, while others are served by multiple clinics. Private non-profit providers are also eligible to be selected as a WIC Clinic.

Statewide Program Access 2015-17: Between 2015 and 2017, an average of 52.2% of the population eligible for WIC were enrolled in the program in Colorado.

Financial Security:
Colorado Works

Colorado Works is the name given to Colorado’s program for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF. It is an employment program that supports families with dependent children on their path to self-sufficiency. Participants can receive cash assistance, schooling, workforce development and skills training depending on the services available in their county.

State Department: Department of Human Services

Eligibility: In general, Coloradans are eligible to enroll in TANF if they are a resident of Colorado, have one or more children under the age of 18 or pregnant, and have very low or no income. For example, to be eligible to receive a basic cash assistance grant through TANF, a single-parent of one child could not earn more than $331 per month, with some exclusions—and would only receive $440 per month (as of 2022). That said, there are other services provided by counties through TANF that those with incomes as high as $75,000 may be eligible for. In addition to these, participants in TANF are required to work or be pursuing an eligible “work activity” or work-related activity. Any eligible individual can only receive assistance if they have not previously been enrolled in TANF for a cumulative amount of time of more than 60 months—this is a lifetime limit that does not reset. Counties may have additional requirements and offer benefits that are not available in other counties in Colorado.

Program Benefits:  While the exact benefits that one is eligible for under TANF can vary, all qualified participants are eligible to receive a monthly cash payment, call basic cash assistance. Other than cash assistance, counties are have a lot of choice in how to use their TANF funding; generally a use of TANF funds is appropriate so long as it advances one or more of the four purposes of the program: (1) provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of their relatives; (2) end the dependence of needy families on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

It is important to note that those eligible for TANF are also eligible for many of the other programs we’ve included in this report, such as SNAP, Medicaid, and CCCAP.

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds its TANF program through funds received from the federal government through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families block grant. Most of the federal funds are allocated by the state to counties, which are required to provide a 20% match of state funding. Federal and state rules allow the state and counties to retain a portion of unspent funds in a TANF reserve.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 50.7% of the population at or below 100% of FPL (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for TANF) were enrolled in TANF in Colorado.

EARLY LEARNING:
COLORADO CHILD CARE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (CCCAP)

The Colorado Child Care Assistance Program provides child care assistance to low-income families and caregivers living in Colorado in the form of reduced payments for child care. It is a program funded by the federal, state, and county governments and is administered by counties in Colorado. The share owed by parents/caregivers is determined on a sliding scale based on the family’s income.

State Department: Department of Early Childhood Education

Eligibility: Counties set eligibility for families separately, but must serve families with incomes at or below 185% of the Federal Poverty Limit. Families accepted to the program are no longer eligible once their income exceeds 85% of the state median income. Parents or caregivers must be employed, searching for work, or engaged in another approved activity to be eligible for CCCAP. Parents and caregivers enrolled in Colorado Works (Temporary Assistance to Needy Families or TANF) or in the child welfare system are also eligible to participate in CCCAP. Generally, CCCAP serves families with children under 13, although children as old as 19 may be eligible under certain circumstances.

Program Benefits: If a family is eligible for CCCAP and has income, they may likely have to pay a portion of their child’s or children’s child care costs each month. The amount that families owe is based on their gross income, number of household members, and the number of children in child care in the household. As such, households tend not to experience a benefit cliff with CCCAP when they see their incomes increase

Program Funding and Access: Colorado funds the CCCAP program using federal dollars it receives from the Child Care and Development Block Grant program. The state allocates federal and state funds to counties using a formula that takes into account factors like current caseloads and the number of eligible residents. Assistance is available until the county’s funds are spent, so the number of families that can be served is often a function of how much funding is available and the income and composition of the household that applies. It is not uncommon for counties to overspend or underspend their allocations of funds. The state reallocates unspent funds from counties who underspent to those who overspent. While underspending could indicate a problem with the way a county administers its CCCAP program, it could just as likely be a sign that there are few providers in the county who participate in CCCAP—or a lack of providers generally.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 10.8% of the population at or below 165% of FPL and younger than age 13 (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for CCCAP) were enrolled in CCCAP.

Housing:
HUD rental assistance programs

The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) has three housing assistance programs that we look at together: Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8), Project-based Section 8, and Public Housing. In Colorado, these programs provided assistance to over 90% of the households who received federal housing assistance from all HUD programs. Through federally funded, local or regional public housing agencies (PHAs) are the agencies that administer these programs, through not all are available in all counties. These are not the only programs available in Colorado that assist households afford the cost of housing, such as units funded through federal and state tax credit programs.

State Department: Department of Local Affairs

Eligibility: Generally, households with incomes under 50% of the area median income (AMI) of the county they live in are eligible for these rental assistance programs, although PHAs have discretion to select households with incomes at higher percentages of AMI. That said, HUD requires that 75% of new vouchers issued through the Housing Choice Voucher/Section 8 program in a given year are targeted to households with incomes at or below 30% of AMI. PHAs are also able to create criteria that give priority to certain types of households who are on waiting lists for these programs.

Program Benefits: These rental assistance programs help households afford the cost of housing by reducing their housing costs to around 30% of their household income. In the case of the Housing Choice Voucher program, the PHA pays the voucher holder’s landlord the remaining portion of the rent.

Program Funding and Access: Funding and access are both challenges for these rental assistance programs. In addition to limitations on the number of public housing units or housing vouchers a PHA can manage or issue, lack of funding compared to the need constrains the ability of PHAs to assist low-income households. In 2020, Coloradans were on waitlists for Housing Choice Vouchers for an average of 17 months. Waitlists also exist for the other rental assistance programs.

Statewide Program Access 2015-19: Over the study period of this report, an average of 21.1% of renter households with incomes at or below 50% AMI (i.e., the population who is likely to be eligible for HUD rental assistance programs) were living in subsidized housing.