As a finalist for this year’s Impact100 Award, Archway Communities was awarded more than $53,000 to further their mission of providing access to affordable housing and the supportive services Coloradans need to stabilize and thrive. 

Founded in 1974, Archway Communities has been a leading nonprofit affordable housing provider and developer for more than 50 years. While the systemic impacts of wealth inequality have communities across the country in crisis, here in Colorado, around half of all renters are considered cost burdened – paying more than 30% of their income on housing. 

To combat Colorado’s growing housing crisis, Archway works with partners, legislators, funders and community members to build and manage affordable housing communities throughout Colorado. Archway currently supports nearly 2,000 residents across 12 communities, including older adults, veterans, individuals exiting homelessness, families, refugees and immigrants.

In 2024, Archway opened its largest community to date on the Mosaic Community Campus in Denver’s Park Hill and East Colfax neighborhoods. Located on the site of the former Johnson & Wales University and Colorado Women’s College campuses, the Mosaic Community Campus added 154 affordable units to Archway’s portfolio through the preservation and transformation of four former dormitories.

Among these 154 units, Archway welcomed over 300 residents to the Archway community when construction was completed in late 2024. Residents on the Mosaic Community Campus have access to programming offered by campus partners, including Work Options, the Kitchen Network, St. Elizabeth’s School, Denver School of the Arts and Dirt Coffee, as well as on-site supportive services offered by Archway, including no-cost food programming, Kids Club, resource connection and community events.

Thanks to a donation from BrightView, Archway was able to expand its supportive services programming to include a community garden on the Mosaic campus earlier this year. The Mosaic garden includes 19 garden beds, three of which are ADA-accessible, and offers hands- on learning through Kids Club and community events. 

With the generous Impact100 Award funding, Archway Communities will be able to fund a second phase of the Mosaic garden project. This second phase will include doubling the amount of garden beds to account for the overwhelming demand from Mosaic residents, and will support the purchase of additional program supplies, including shovels, seeds and soil that residents need to successfully tend to their gardens. In addition, funds from Impact100 will allow Archway to engage with Denver Urban Gardens, providing garden education and support that will help the garden thrive well into the future. 

By doubling the size of the Mosaic garden, Archway will also be able to engage a larger number of residents, as well as partners such as Work Options and St. Elizabeth’s School. By increasing engagement with campus partners, Archway hopes to deepen community connection between Mosaic residents and the surrounding community for years to come. 

Archway could not be more grateful for this incredible gift and support from the amazing women of Impact100. This garden will be far more than just a green space — it will be a place of connection, nourishment, and growth. With your support, residents will have access to fresh, healthy produce, opportunities to connect with neighbors, and a beautiful shared space that fosters wellness, belonging, and pride. Your investment is helping us create not just housing, but a true sense of home and community.