Rep. Pettersen Participates in Roundtable Hosted by FHLBank Topeka and MSU Denver
Housing experts and community leaders gathered at Metropolitan State University of Denver on Tuesday for the Colorado Affordable Housing Symposium, an event designed to connect local organizations with resources to support affordable housing efforts. As Colorado communities continue to navigate challenges, including recent wildfires, the symposium emphasized the importance of strong partnerships and accessible grant programs.
Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) joined a roundtable at the start of the event to discuss affordable housing resources.
"I am grateful to every expert who came together to discuss the barriers and opportunities we have in Congress to address the housing crisis. While I am proud to have been a part of passing the largest housing package in 30 years, we still have so much more to do. I look forward to working alongside the experts in attendance to ensure the American dream can still be realized for regular people,” said Rep. Brittany Pettersen (CO-07).
The partnership between FHLBank Topeka and MSU Denver began several years ago during discussions on how to address the affordable housing shortage across Colorado and the country. As a result of those discussions, the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute at MSU Denver opened in 2025 to train and equip professionals to enter the affordable housing industry. Experts from the program will participate at the symposium.
Following the roundtable discussion, FHLBank Topeka and MSU Denver facilitated instructional sessions for attendees, highlighting key programs and resources available to support affordable housing efforts. The event concluded with small‑group conversations, giving participants the opportunity to share experiences and learn from others about what’s working in their communities.
“One of the goals of the FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute at MSU Denver is to be an active facilitator and collaboration point for those working to find solutions to Colorado’s affordable housing industry,” says Ethan Waples, MSU Denver College of Business dean. “This symposium discussion illustrated the complexities of the problem we are working to solve and the need for input and support at every level from housing advocates, developers, businesses and government.”
Along with its foundational mission of providing liquidity to members to support communities, FHLBank Topeka also supports affordable housing and community development in its district of Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma. FHLBank set aside 15 percent of its income in 2026 to support these community-building efforts through its 639 member financial institutions.
“FHLBank Topeka recognizes the importance of collaboration to increase awareness of grant opportunities and strengthen community development efforts. During past discussions with Rep. Pettersen, we know affordable housing is an important topic to her,” said Jeff Kuzbel, President and CEO of FHLBank Topeka. “We hope the event raised awareness about FHLBank grants available through our member financial institutions as well as other programs, like the innovative FHLBank Topeka Affordable Housing Institute at MSU Denver, that help Colorado communities thrive.”
