How Camden Property Trust works to reshape advocacy one meeting at a time
BY ASHLEY LEWIS
Born from the Day at the Capitol earlier this year with AAMD, we, as multifamily leaders, were challenged to have conversations with our legislators. Challenged because this isn’t a battle of what ‘side of the aisle you are on’ but a battle because as an industry we must come together and advocate.
In today’s housing environment, conversations about affordability, supply, resident protections, and operational regulations are taking place in legislatures across the country and Colorado is no exception. As more housing-related proposals emerge nationwide, multifamily professionals have an opportunity and responsibility to ensure policymakers understand how legislation impacts residents, housing providers, and communities. We all know that – but what do we intend on doing about it?
We at Camden wanted to take a stand – a stand that we proudly call ‘Coffee with Legislators.’ Coffee with Legislators is a grassroots advocacy program designed to create meaningful connections between multifamily housing professionals, including the boots on the ground leadership, and elected officials. The effort is built on a simple premise: the best policy outcomes often begin with open dialogue, mutual understanding, and strong relationships.
Launched earlier this year, the program began by bringing together those regional and onsite multifamily leaders who have volunteered to engage with their respective State Senators and Representatives throughout the year. Participants are encouraged to connect with legislators as constituents, offering to meet over coffee, virtually, or in person to discuss housing issues and share perspectives from the front lines of the industry.
Proactive engagement is the key, and rather than waiting until legislation is introduced or debated, we are looking to establish relationships before critical housing issues reach the Capitol. By doing so, multifamily professionals can serve as a resource for the many lawmakers who are tasked with making critical decisions regarding legislative bills. Coffee with Legislators opens the door, starts the dialogue and allows lawmakers to call on a friend when needed.
At its core, our program aims to put a ‘friendly face’ on an industry that is often discussed but not always appropriately represented during policy conversations. Multifamily housing professionals bring valuable real-world experience to the table including stories and how we have a passion to create a meaningful place to call home. They see daily how regulations impact leasing, resident services, maintenance operations, development feasibility, and housing accessibility. Their perspective can help legislators better understand both the intended and unintended consequences of policy proposals.
Momentum for the program has been encouraging from the start. Since inception and within the first 60 days, we have already secured several meetings with legislators representing both parties. Our early returns include a published article that speaks to the state of Colorado relative to some of the ongoing challenges in California, an invitation to join an established housing working group, and multiple text threads as a means of ongoing communication. These early successes have demonstrated that legislators are willing to engage directly with housing professionals when outreach is personal, respectful, and focused on education rather than politics.
The structure of the initiative is intentionally simple and repeatable. Each participating regional or onsite leader is assigned a quarter during which they contact their designated Senator and Representative through email and phone outreach. If a legislator is unable to respond immediately, participants continue following up in subsequent quarters. The philosophy is straightforward: meaningful relationships require consistency, persistence and care.
What makes the program particularly noteworthy is its scale. We estimate that if every participant completes their planned outreach throughout the second half of 2026, we will generate approximately 300 touchpoints with Colorado legislators in just two quarters. These touchpoints include emails, phone calls, virtual meetings, and face-to-face discussions. The cumulative effect creates a substantial and sustained advocacy presence across the state.
The long-term vision is to create a blueprint that can be shared with Apartment Associations, industry partners, and multifamily organizations throughout Colorado and beyond. If successful, the concept could help expand grassroots advocacy efforts in other markets facing similar legislative challenges.
Sometimes, meaningful change starts with something as simple as a cup of coffee and a willingness to listen. Through direct engagement and ongoing dialogue, we are helping ensure that the voices of housing providers, residents, and communities remain part of the conversation shaping the future of multifamily. Power in numbers for an industry we love and is critical to the future of Colorado!