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Hello,
Welcome! We're so happy you're here.
Our organization, BEDROOMS ARE FOR PEOPLE, is made up of a small group of thoughtful, committed residents who believe we can help make Boulder a more inclusive, affordable and welcoming place to call home.
now more than ever, we need to do what we can to take care of each other.
We hope you join us.
With Love,
Bedrooms Are For People
The Problem
In most of Boulder, it is illegal for more than three unrelated people to live together. For example, this means that in most of Boulder it is illegal for four unrelated people to live together in a four-bedroom house. It doesn't matter how big the house is, how old the residents are, or if the owner lives in the home.
Some Reasons Why this is a Problem
Freedom of personal choice is a liberty protected and guaranteed under the 14th amendment of our constitution. Who you live with is a personal choice you should make, not the government.
The current occupancy laws are oppressive and unjust, and simply do not reflect our progressive community’s environmental, economic, and social values.
Not allowing at least one person to occupy each bedroom in a home creates unnecessary economic hardship.
People are choosing to settle down later in life, and many people want to live with others during this time.
The current law limits co-housing among seniors and retirees who are increasingly looking for ways to reduce expenses and gain companionship.
Boulder's current occupancy laws are in conflict with the occupancy standards recommended in the Fair Housing Act.
Overly restrictive occupancy limits results in the need to build more buildings to create additional housing, requiring the consumption of more natural resources.
Traffic is bad for air quality & overall quality of life. The farther people live outside of Boulder, the more likely they are to drive & contribute to traffic congestion.
The zoning and housing laws that exist today in Boulder and across the country were morphed from the outwardly racist and segregationist policies that plagued the 20th century. Boulder's current housing law exacerbates and perpetuates social segregation by deterring economic and racial integration. It's time we start unraveling these discriminatory laws.
Our city's occupancy laws create extra financial burden on the best of days. In this time of crisis, individuals need to feel safe and secure in their housing situation. With some modest changes to our archaic occupancy laws, we could help ensure increased housing stability for everyone, including those who need it most.
Our Solution
Our Solution
Instead of only allowing three unrelated people to live together, we believe a simple, common-sense change would be to allow one person living in each bedroom of a home. After all, bedrooms are for people.
Our specific ballot language:
Shall the City of Boulder expand access to housing by allowing all housing units to be occupied by a number of people equal to the number of legal bedrooms, plus one additional person per home, provided that relevant health and safety codes are met?
put simply....
Our initiative would make it so that up to four unrelated people would be allowed to live together in a three-bedroom house, up to five unrelated people would be allowed to live together in a four-bedroom house. Etcetera.
Our measure does not impose any new restrictions on any groups — it only EXPANDS housing options for everyone. Our ballot measure would not affect traditional families. Traditional families are already allowed to have an unlimited number of people living together, and those guaranteed federal legal protections for families will remain the same when our measure passes.
it's a small but mightystep in the right direction.
PROGRESS
PROGRESS
Join the Cause!
