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!
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Ashley Lewis is the Regional Manager at Camden Property Trust
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