As an organization that works directly with families and individuals who span a broad spectrum of backgrounds and circumstances–including those who work hard and still struggle to make ends meet–the African Leadership Group (ALG) is in an excellent position to evaluate programs and proposals aimed at helping people in need.

At ALG, we strongly support and see a compelling need for the Family Affordability Tax Credit, a bill before the state legislature designed to help alleviate the burdens shouldered by a significant portion of the state’s population.

In Colorado, economic growth has been racing ahead, yet has left too many households unable to meet the most basic of needs. The fact that families must earn six figures to secure a median-priced home, or that minimum wage earners must work 77 hours a week just for a one-bedroom apartment is a glaring testament to the gap between the haves and have-nots.

Across the Front Range, we regularly witness firsthand the struggles of families trying to climb out of poverty. Over the last 10 years, escalating home prices and mortgage rates have driven the home unaffordability rate up by four percent in Denver and five percent in Colorado Springs. Over the same period, there has not been a comparable increase in wages, pushing affordable housing further out of reach for many households.

Additionally, rising costs and inflation are impacting other areas of everyday life, such as groceries and gasoline, which puts additional pressure on already strained household budgets, with a disproportionate impact on lower-income and working-class families.

The Family Affordability Tax Credit isn’t just a helping hand; it’s a lifeline. It’s an opportunity for nearly half of Colorado’s working families to breathe a little easier when paying for housing, food, and childcare.

As proposed, the Family Affordability Tax Credit is a comprehensive approach to confronting the economic disparities in Colorado. It stands not just as a promise to uplift those in need, but as an instrument designed to deliver targeted support efficiently and effectively. It draws on a $1.8 billion TABOR surplus — a reserve that is not just a windfall but a resource that is distributed directly to the families that need it most.

For families at the lowest income levels, the policy promises the most robust support, offering up to $4,400 per child aged 5 and under, and $2,400 per child up to 16 for single filers making under $15,000, and for joint filers making under $25,000. This investment would represent a critical source of support for these families. It would have a major impact on their day-to-day lives and on their prospects for the future.

What makes the Family Affordability Tax Credit especially compelling is its two-pronged strategy: it aims to deepen the pool of support for the most vulnerable while simultaneously broadening the reach to include a substantial segment of the middle class, who are often overlooked in policy initiatives but are equally strained by the rising cost of living.

Families making up to $95,000 a year are eligible for a smaller credit, an acknowledgement that people who don’t qualify as low-income also struggle to make ends meet in a state as expensive as Colorado has become.

As Governor Jared Polis noted in his 2024 State of the State address, eighty-three percent of Colorado parents worry their children won’t be able to afford to live here. Affordability and smart public policies help to keep Colorado a great state for its diverse population of people to live, learn, work, and play.

Considering the implications not only on individuals and families, but also on the state’s overall economy and quality of life, inaction is not an option.

This measure is not just good economics; it’s an embodiment of our values. This proposed legislation is an acknowledgment that economic health is not measured solely by the state’s output but by the well-being of all citizens.

The Family Affordability Tax Credit represents an investment in the present and a profound commitment to the future. It is time for Colorado to set a precedent for the nation, proving that economic prosperity and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

Papa Dia is founder and president of the African Leadership Group, a nonpartisan advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for African immigrants, members of the diaspora, and the community at large.