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Keystone Policy Center released the results of a first-of-its-kind statewide survey of more than 3,200 Colorado educators last week that found that the cost of housing is pushing teachers out of their communities, and in some cases, out of the profession entirely. The survey results, included as part of Keystone’s new report, We Can’t Live Where We Teach: Teacher Perspectives, paint a vivid and troubling picture of how the high cost of housing is undermining recruitment, retention, and educational stability across the state.
“Colorado’s ability to deliver quality education depends on having committed, effective teachers in every classroom,” said Van Schoales, senior policy director at Keystone Policy Center. “This report confirms what we’ve been hearing for years and in previous Keystone reports: without affordable housing, we will continue to lose great educators. This report includes firsthand stories from across the state that make this hardship impossible to ignore.”
The report is Keystone’s third major publication on teacher housing since 2022. While the first two reports focused on the economics of teacher homeownership and models for developing workforce housing, this latest study adds personal narratives from educators themselves, providing a deeper and more human-centered understanding of the crisis.
Key findings include:
- 58% of educators are interested in district-provided affordable housing.
- 70% would feel comfortable with their school district as landlord.
- In some districts, over half of educators spend more than 40% of their income on housing—well above affordability guidelines.
- Teachers report leaving the profession for better-paying work in other industries, often with less stress and shorter hours.
The report features stories from educators in rural, urban, and suburban districts—from international teachers sharing cramped apartments to veteran educators contemplating leaving due to housing instability. These personal accounts underscore the report’s central message: housing is not just a personal challenge for teachers, it’s a systemic threat to student success.
Keystone Policy Center is working alongside school districts, policymakers, and community partners to design and implement solutions. The report outlines actionable recommendations, including centering teacher voices in housing initiatives, learning from successful models across Colorado and the nation, engaging outside experts to navigate housing development, and leveraging state and nonprofit support to scale solutions, particularly in rural areas. By conducting surveys, facilitating community engagement, and sharing best practices, Keystone is helping districts explore models for affordable teacher housing, connect with potential partners, and develop policies that retain educators without sacrificing competitive salaries.
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Shelby Coffey III is a distinguished journalist, media executive, and thought leader whose career has helped shape the landscape of American news and public discourse. Over several decades, Coffey has held some of the most influential roles in journalism, including serving as editor of the Los Angeles Times, executive vice president of ABC News, and deputy managing editor of The Washington Post. His editorial leadership extended to key roles as president of CNN Financial News, editor of the Dallas Times Herald, and U.S. News & World Report.
Jerry Steiner has spent 40 years involved in agriculture following growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm. He began his career with Monsanto, in multiple business leadership roles. From 2003-2013 he served as a member of the Executive team, as the company’s Executive Vice President of Sustainability and Corporate Affairs. He led the company’s global Government, Public and Industry Affairs teams across the 70 countries where Monsanto conducts business. This experience got Jerry connected to the Keystones centers work in agriculture. Key among his responsibilities were shaping the company’s public policy and building partnerships aimed at helping farmers around the world produce more food, while conserving valuable resources like water and energy. Two unique partnership that developed under his leadership were drought tolerant corn with 5 African countries, CIMMYT and the Gates foundation, and a building a sustainable business model in Brazil with the value chain leading to significant multi-company investment and soybean varieties that can protected themselves.
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Steven Williams is the Chief Executive Officer of PepsiCo North America, overseeing a more than $48 billion business that spans PepsiCo’s Foods and Beverage operating units. His leadership encompasses more than 125,000 associates and over 900 locations across the U.S. and Canada. Steven joined PepsiCo in 2001 as part of PepsiCo’s acquisition of the Quaker Oats Company, which he joined in 1997, and has held leadership positions of increased responsibility since.