My name is Mary Ramirez, and I have been a renter in Colorado for most of my life. I have seven kids and (soon-to-be) 18 grandchildren. I raised my kids mostly on my own, and I’m grateful for the support I received from social services and government programs like Section 8, which helped a lot. I’ve worked my whole life to build a better future for myself, my children, and now my grandchildren. I do my best to support my kids and their families, giving them hand-me-downs and babysitting my grandkids. It’s important to me to be there when they need me.
Right now, I live in Westminster at a Greystar property, but I haven’t been here long. As rents keep going up, I’ve been forced to move from one apartment to the next, sometimes even sleeping at work while I searched for somewhere I could afford. I wish I made enough to save a little, but I can’t unless the rent is cheaper. I spend about about 50% of my income on rent and have to sit down every day to calculate how much I need to set aside just to make it to the end of the month. My job at Pizza Hut helps — I’m thankful for the days I can bring home pizza because sometimes I don’t have enough money for food. I work as hard as I can, and still, I struggle with the cost of rent and and threats of eviction.
If Colorado could create a policy like rent stabilization, it would make a huge difference for people like me. It would allow folks to live better — to save money, afford groceries, and cover other basic needs. Families could save for a home, and parents could pay for their kids’ activities and hobbies. Right now, the cost of rent is so high that people can’t afford to spend time with their loved ones. With rent stabilization, our communities could be less stressed, more joyful, and have more time for what really matters: spending time with family.
