Developing Innovative Housing Solution for Educators in Cortez, Colorado | LOR Foundation
Housing

Developing Innovative Housing Solution for Educators in Cortez, Colorado

Cortez
  • Organization Funded: Keystone Policy Center
  • Date Funded: November 5, 2025

Project Leadership

  • Kwame Spearman Consultant — Keystone Policy Center

    Kwame Spearman is a management, operations, and strategy professional with expertise in helping school districts use their assets to address educator housing needs.
  • Van Schoales Senior Policy Director — Keystone Policy Center

    Van Schoales is a senior policy director at Keystone Policy Center. He formerly worked as a high school teacher and school administrator as well as founder of education research and policy organizations. Both Kwame and Van are authors of “We Can’t Live Where We Teach: Teacher Perspectives,” a 2025 report on educator housing shortages.

About the Project

Increasing cost of living has made Cortez less affordable for low- to middle-income earners, especially teachers. The school district has launched an effort to consider how best to deploy its resources, including closed or underutilized spaces such as the former Manaugh Elementary, to attract housing development that is affordable to members of the local workforce, especially teachers. LOR funded predevelopment work that will identify options—from developing existing assets to creating incentives for developers—and engage locals to understand community perspective. That work will help the school district land on a course of action that ensures it has the tools to unlock funding to launch new housing development for the local workforce.

 

To learn more contact our Strategic Initiatives Officer. Meet Bill

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