Key takeaways:
- MSU Denver explored a workforce housing opportunity and will use feedback to guide decisions on potential programming and benefits.
- About 28% of employees surveyed are housing-cost burdened.
- Employees generally favored living away from work over University-sponsored housing on campus.
Housing affordability is affecting a meaningful portion of MSU Denver’s workforce, according to MSU Denver’s 2026 Workforce Housing Demand Study. Additionally, workforce housing planned on campus meets some of the goals of employees, and the University will strive to provide early access to units and provide information as the project advances.
The study, which included employee focus groups and a confidential employee survey conducted by Brailsford & Dunlavey, provides the University with a clearer picture of housing-cost impacts on employees, recruitment and retention, and strategies to address them.
Housing affordability is a workforce issue
About 28% of employees surveyed are housing-cost burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Another 5% are severely cost burdened, spending more than half of their income on housing.
The pressure is particularly significant for lower-income and early-career employees, and respondents indicated that housing costs can influence decisions about taking or remaining in a job.
The study also identified challenges for employees moving to Denver, suggesting that limited-term transitional housing could help some new employees get established.
Employees prefer to keep home and work separate
The University also used the study to gauge interest in potentially reserving or leasing units for employees in the planned Auraria Campus Merage Early Learning Center & Workforce Housing development.
Results showed some support by MSU Denver of faculty and staff. Leaders say the University will pursue early access to units and share information with employees who may be interested in independently pursuing housing there.
However, employee feedback did not show enough demand to justify moving forward with a formal leasing or reserved-housing arrangement. Respondents generally preferred living away from work, maintaining separation between their professional and personal lives and avoiding additional parking costs.
MSU Denver therefore will not pursue a leasing partnership or reserve a block of units in the development.
Long-term stability generated more interest
While most employees weren’t looking for University-sponsored on-campus rentals, the assessment pointed toward other possibilities.
Employees showed greater interest in approaches that could support long-term housing stability and pathways to homeownership. They also showed some interest in transitional housing for employees moving to Denver.
No additional workforce-housing initiatives are planned at this time, but the findings are intended to provide MSU Denver direction for future conversations about potential programs that could provide the greatest value for employees.
