Earlier this month, Governor Jared Polis toured a handful of housing developments in Boulder, including Boulder Housing Partners’ (BHP’s) 30Pearl affordable housing project. This project is now home to 20 residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and we support them with our Ramble Community Connections program. BHP hosted the tour where Governor Polis had a chance to meet some of the residents, learn about our community-based services, and visit Ramble Marketplace.
30Pearl includes 120 apartment units that are affordable to households earning 30 to 60 percent of Boulder County’s Area Median Income (AMI). Among the 120 apartment units, BHP dedicated 20 units to adults with IDD who typically earn just 10 to 20 percent of AMI making even these affordable apartments out of reach. These 20 units were therefore provided with additional rent subsidies to make the units truly affordable. BHP also partnered with Ramble to offer programs to help these individuals thrive in independent community-based living.
“Across Boulder County, approximately 800 individuals with IDD are living with and being cared for by their parents who are aged 60 and above,” Co-founder, Andy Minden, said. “Not only is there a lack of quality and affordable housing for this population, but they are also often isolated from the community. That is why we started Ramble Community Connections.”
Ramble’s Community Connections program offers activities, experiences, and interactive engagements that support people of all abilities and create opportunities for them to develop sustainable, natural relationships with their neighbors and new friends in their community.
“The people living at 30Pearl are the true asset for Boulder. We are thrilled to blend 30Pearl and its high-quality, affordable housing and services into our greater community,” said Jeremy Durham, Executive Director of BHP.
Our new “Boulder-born” gift shop, Ramble Marketplace, is co-located with the 30Pearl project and will be a second home for our Ramble Opportunities apprentice program. This program has created pathways to community employment out of our sister store, Ramble on Pearl, since 2014. Starting next year, we will be expanding the capacity of our apprentice program in conjunction with Ramble Marketplace.
To learn more about Ramble Community Connections click HERE.
