The Rocky Mountain West is one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States, and with that growth comes mounting pressure on housing. Denver has seen some of the most acute housing pressures in the U.S., with rising costs and homelessness outpacing many peer cities. These challenges point to a growing need for data and practical strategies that reflect the realities of Colorado and the broader region.

To help meet that need, the University of Denver has launched the Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions, an interdisciplinary hub that aims to become the region’s leading resource for housing research, policy evaluation, and professional education. The first of its kind in the state, the center aims to support vibrant, sustainable communities by developing innovative solutions across the full housing continuum.

While nationally recognized housing centers exist in places like California and New York, the Mountain West has lacked a dedicated academic institution focused on the unique legal, economic, cultural, and policy conditions shaping housing in the region, according to Susan Daggett, executive director of DU’s Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute at the Sturm College of Law.

“The vision is to establish a center that understands the distinct identity of the region and develops solutions that make sense here, rather than borrowing them from other places,” Daggett says.

As an R1 research institution with deep roots in Denver and Colorado, DU is uniquely positioned to lead this work. The center brings together the university’s expertise in real estate, land use law, public policy, and social work to support a dynamic research agenda that can inform housing policy at the local, regional, and national levels.

Founded by Daggett and Vivek Sah, director of the Franklin L. Burns School of Real Estate and Construction Management in the Daniels College of Business, the center launched in February with support from four Colorado-based and national funders committed to strengthening communities and fostering innovation: the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA), ZOMA LAB, Conscience Bay Research, and Arnold Ventures.

Their support provides the seed funding needed to establish the center’s core operations and begin its work. Additional early support from the Simpson family, founders of the real estate investment firm Grand Peaks, and CHFA helped establish an Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing in 2024. The professional education program is a key part of the center’s mission, helping prepare both current and future housing leaders to navigate the region’s evolving challenges.

“CHFA’s investment in DU’s Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions will support greater access to affordable housing,” says CHFA Executive Director and CEO Thomas Bryan. “Through research, data analysis, and professional development, the center will help shape a future where more Coloradans have the opportunity to thrive.”

The center will operate on a hub-and-spoke model, with DU serving as the central coordinating hub. A major part of its mission is building strong partnerships with academic institutions, public agencies, and industry leaders to collaboratively shape and advance a shared research agenda.

By working closely with regional partners, the center aims to ensure that the most pressing housing issues are addressed through practical, actionable research grounded in the realities of the communities it serves.

“Sustainable housing solutions are best achieved when we work side by side with our partners across the region,” says Daggett. “The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions is committed to delivering rigorous, locally grounded research that supports effective policies for our communities.”

Core priorities for a sustainable future

The center will focus on three core priorities:

Research and Policy Evaluation: The center will conduct rigorous, data-driven analysis to evaluate housing policies and explore new solutions. This includes using tools like UC Berkeley’s Terner Center for Housing Innovation Housing Policy Simulator to model how different policies may affect housing production.

Market Analytics and Data Hub: By building a comprehensive regional data library, the center aims to expand access to critical housing information. It will publish regular market reports and an annual “State of Housing in Colorado” report designed to become a trusted source of housing data for the region.

Education and Leadership Development: The center will help train the next generation of housing professionals through DU’s undergraduate and graduate programs while also offering executive education, workshops, and professional development opportunities, including the Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing.

The Executive Certificate’s first cohort has already completed the eight-month program. Offered jointly by the Burns School and the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute, the program is designed to upskill professionals currently working in the affordable housing sector or reskill professionals looking to transition into the field. It includes eight course modules that cover everything from housing policy and real estate finance to the social dimensions of funding and building affordable housing.

“We found that there are similar programs across the country—but they’re short-term and somewhat incomplete,” says Sah. “They don’t look at the overall holistic approach, and they’re definitely not multidisciplinary.”

The first cohort included 26 students from diverse professional backgrounds, including policy leaders, local government officials, builders, and real estate and community professionals. One of them was Amy Schwartz, vice president of social responsibility and community partnerships at Oakwood Homes.

Schwartz says the interdisciplinary approach was one of the most beneficial parts of the program. “These are complex problems … and the shared learning together with a group of professionals—who may never have met or built relationships with each other—from all these different groups and organizations and perspectives is important,” she says. “And the industry is changing. For people who have the courage and time to commit to a program like this, this shared learning space will hopefully accelerate some innovation in the industry over time.”

The path forward

Modeled after successful housing centers at institutions like UC Berkeley, NYU, and Harvard, DU’s center will focus on Colorado initially but plan to expand to the broader region and collaborate with researchers from peer institutions. Its launch marks an important step toward building a more responsive, efficient, and equitable housing system across the region.

To help lead that effort, DU announced in May that Solomon Greene will serve as the center’s inaugural executive director and research professor. He will also join the Sturm College of Law as Distinguished Scholar in Residence.

Widely recognized for his expertise in evidence-based housing policy, land use law, innovative construction technologies, and climate resilience, Greene brings decades of leadership experience to the role and will help position the center as a leading source for housing data, policy solutions, and thought leadership in the Rocky Mountain West.

He led HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research under President Biden, overseeing the federal government’s flagship housing research and policy development office, and most recently served as executive director for land and communities at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. His career also includes leadership roles at the Urban Institute and the Open Society Foundations. He has taught at NYU’s Wagner School of Public Service, serves on the National Housing Crisis Task Force, and is Vice President of the Board of Directors of the National Housing Law Project.

Throughout his career, Greene has led initiatives focused on expanding access to affordable housing, advancing climate-resilient housing solutions, and supporting inclusive economic growth.

“The Rocky Mountain West is grappling with housing challenges that are both urgent and solvable—from supply shortages and affordability pressures to climate risks that are reshaping where and how we build,” Greene says. “I’m excited to lead a center that can bring rigorous research, actionable data, and genuine partnerships to bear on those challenges, and to help Colorado and the region become a model for the rest of the country.”

Chancellor Jeremy Haefner says the center reflects DU’s commitment to advancing the public good and supporting the region’s long-term economic vitality.

“The University of Denver is proud to play a central role in driving economic growth and opportunity in our region,” says Chancellor Haefner. “The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions will be an essential engine for progress, securing a more resilient and prosperous future for Colorado and beyond.”