Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions

The Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions at the University of Denver is the Rocky Mountain West’s hub for interdisciplinary housing research, data, policy evaluation, and education.

Housing challenges in the region are complex, fast-moving, and deeply local. While national housing research centers exist on the coasts, the Mountain West has lacked a dedicated academic institution focused on the unique legal, economic, political, and market conditions shaping housing across Colorado and the broader region. The Center was created to fill that gap. 

Bringing together expertise in real estate, land use law, public policy, social work, and urban governance, the Center produces rigorous, data-driven research that informs real-world decisions. We work in close partnership with policymakers, industry leaders, community organizations, and peer universities to evaluate housing policies, analyze market dynamics, and develop practical, forward-looking solutions. 

denver with suburbs and mountains in background

Our mission is simple and ambitious: To help build vibrant, sustainable communities with a full continuum of housing—from deeply affordable to market-rate—so that people across the Rocky Mountain West can thrive. We recognize that housing affordability, supply, and stability are inseparable from market conditions, land use policy, financing, and governance—and our work reflects that reality. 

Through research, data, education, and collaboration, the Center for Housing Research and Innovative Solutions is building the knowledge and leadership needed to expand housing supply, improve affordability, and shape the future of communities across the Rocky Mountain West.

campus in the foreground denver and mountains in the background
The Center operates on a hub-and-spoke model with the University of Denver providing strong leadership, administration, and accountability while collaborating broadly across the state and region through affiliate faculty, joint research projects, and convenings. This structure allows us to integrate regional expertise while maintaining the focus and capacity needed to deliver high-impact work. 

Core Priorities

The Center’s work focuses on three core priorities:

research

Research and Policy Evaluation

Rigorous, nonpartisan analysis of housing policies and practices to support evidence-based decision making and innovation.

houses

Market Analytics and Data

A trusted regional hub for housing data, trends, and insights tailored to Colorado and the Mountain West.

person looking at a building

Education and Leadership Development

Training the next generation of housing professionals and equipping today’s leaders with the tools to navigate a complex housing landscape.

campus during the summer

DU Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing

The DU Executive Certificate in Affordable Housing is a joint program offered by the Burns School of Real Estate & Construction Management at the University of Denver's Daniels College of Business and the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute at the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law. Featuring in-depth training from interdisciplinary experts, the program provides participants with a focused and fast-tracked pathway to learn the complexities of affordable housing development and the practical skills necessary to work in this specialized sector.

Explore Certificate