CEDP April Newsletter
Legislative Updates, Supporting Monica Villela in the Fight for Her Home, Upcoming Virtual Homeowner Know Your Rights Events, and more!
Happy May! As we head into a new month, we want to share what everyone at CEDP was up to during April. There’s always a lot going on throughout the organization, and we hope you’ll take a moment to read about some exciting news and upcoming events. If you’re short on time, here are some quick highlights:
Our teams attended numerous community events in April, and we’re excited to continue our work in the community as we plan for the rest of 2025.
The Colorado Legislative Session is coming to a close, and we’ll continue to advocate for our bills at the Capitol in May! HB25-1117 and HB25-1004 passed both chambers of the Colorado General Assembly and will be headed to the Governor’s desk soon.
We’re sharing Monica Villela’s story and asking for your support! After her home was foreclosed on by her Metro District three years ago, Monica has been tirelessly fighting for her home, and you can join in the fight by signing the petition urging the investor to sell the home back.
In May, our homeowner legal services team at CED Law is hosting four virtual know your rights events! We’d love to see you there — you can RSVP and share the events here.
We’re hiring! Visit the Careers page on our website to see open positions and apply.
CEDP staff will be at a variety of events throughout May — check out the upcoming events section for more information!
CEDP Staff Attended Community Events to Connect With Clients and Share Resources
In April, CEDP staff attended a variety of community events to connect with clients, share resources, and support our community partners. One of these events was with Metro Denver Homelessness Initiative on April 24th. Four members of the CEDP team, Shauna, Briana, Nena, and Ruby, presented on our programs to 250 in-person attendees and an audience of over 300 virtual attendees. On April 25th, CEDP’s Sawyer and Jenny attended a resource fair and networking event that served as a great opportunity for CEDP to share and connect attendees with resources in the community. Check out some pictures from the events below:

The 2025 Colorado Legislative Session is Almost Over — Here are Some Updates on Our Priority Bills
As we approach the end of this legislative session, we’re excited to see several bills make progress and are committed to continuing to advocate for a more fair and affordable Colorado. Here are some updates on bills we’ve supported this session:
HB25-1117: Vehicle Immobilization Company Regulation
Colorado's current vehicle booting system creates a conflict of interest - booting companies not only enforce the rules, but they also profit from every enforcement action they take. HB25-1117 will change the booting incentive structure and introduce booting protections for residents, and it’s now headed to the Governor’s desk!
Working families already stretch every dollar to keep up with rent and bills - unregulated booting shouldn't be another barrier to making ends meet. We’re thrilled to see this legislation on the cusp of becoming state law.
HB25-1004: No Pricing Coordination Between Landlords
Colorado renters are paying sky-high prices, and it's not just about supply & demand. Corporate landlords are using AI to fix prices, essentially charging a 13th month of rent over the course of a year. CEDP’s Sam Gilman explains how these tools work and how they harm working Colorado families in his piece on Medium.
After tireless advocacy, HB25-1004 has now passed the Colorado House and Senate and will soon head to the Governor’s desk. While this means we're one step closer to stopping price-fixing software from driving up rents — a critical step toward protecting renters & making housing more affordable in CO — the fight isn’t over yet. We’ll continue to advocate on behalf of renters and against these AI price-fixing tools until every Colorado family has a safe, affordable place to call home.
Advocating for HOA Reform and Fighting to Save Monica Villela’s Home
Last year, we advocated for legislation that would keep predatory HOA and Metro Districts from foreclosing on families due to unpaid assessments and fees. When steep attorneys’ fees are tacked on to these fees, many people can’t come up with the money in time to avoid losing their homes. Real estate investors snap up foreclosed homes for a fraction of their value, leaving the homeowner with little to nothing once the HOA or Metro District and its attorneys are paid.
Our work on HB24-1337: HOAs and HB24-1267: Special Districts was inspired by the many families who have lost their homes due to these unfair practices, including Monica Villela. Unfortunately, these crucial reforms came after Monica’s home was unfairly foreclosed on and sold at auction.
Monica’s story starts three years ago, when her home was taken from Monica and her family over predatory HOA fines, even though she had paid her mortgage and HOA dues. After the Green Valley Ranch Metro District foreclosed on Monica’s home, an investor bought the house at auction for $23,524.
In that moment, Monica’s family lost not just their home, but the equity they had built and the future they were working toward. This wasn’t just a house; it was their foundation. A place where Monica’s children were growing up, cared for by a tight-knit community.
This is what happens when predatory systems go unchecked.
Monica didn’t give up. She fought back and in the process:
Sparked a city investigation that led to local reform
Helped change state law
Won a court ruling that declared the sale of her home illegal
In April, The Denver Post highlighted Monica’s story in both an investigative article and an opinion piece by The Denver Post Editorial Board. The Editorial Board put it best, stating that “It’s unethical to foreclose a home over unsightly or inconvenient violations of covenants, and the ethics of snapping up these deals at auction are questionable as well.”
We’re proud to support Monica’s fight for justice, and there’s an opportunity for you to come alongside Monica in this fight as well.
Sign the petition from The Redress Movement urging the investor who stole Monica’s home to sell it back.
This isn’t just about one home. It’s about protecting families from a system that too often puts profit over people.
May Know Your Rights Events With CED Law
In May, CED Law’s homeowner legal services team is hosting four virtual know your rights events to provide the community with the knowledge and resources to navigate various homeowner needs. These events will cover the foreclosure process, HOA enforcement and foreclosures, mortgage loan servicing and loss mitigation, and mobile homeowner rights.
If you’re a homeowner with questions about your rights, we’d love to have you at one (or all) of these events! To RSVP and find out more about the events and presenters, visit CEDP on eventbrite.
We’re Hiring — Join Us in the Ongoing Work of Building Economic and Racial Equity
Are you interested in joining the CEDP team? We’re hiring for several positions and are always looking for passionate and dedicated people to join us in our work. Check out the Careers page on our website for more information on each role and the link to apply. Open positions include:
Affirmative Litigation Attorney
Homeowner Defense Supervising Attorney
Loan Officer, CED Loan Fund
Chief of Staff, CED Loan Fund
Senior Housing Compliance Manager
Bilingual Licensed Therapist
Licensed Therapist
Upcoming Community Events
Community Well-Being Resource Fair
When: May 2nd at 12 p.m. MDT
Where: Our Lady Mother of the Church (6690 E. 72nd Ave., Commerce City, CO 80022)
Lease Term & Tenant Responsibilities Presentation
When: May 7th at 4:15 p.m. MDT
Where: Centro San Juan Diego (2830 Lawrence St, Denver, CO 80205)
Renters’ Rights Workshop
When: May 10th at 5:00 p.m. MDT
Where: 1113 8th Ave, Greeley, CO 80631
Virtual Know Your Rights: Public Trustee Mortgage Foreclosure Process & Homeowner Rights
When: May 12th at 6:00 p.m. MDT
Where: Online (RSVP here to get the link)
Virtual Know Your Rights: HOA Enforcement Actions & Foreclosures
When: May 13th at 6:00 p.m. MDT
Where: Online (RSVP here to get the link)
CERA Pre-application Clinic
When: May 14th from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. MDT
Where: CEDP Durango Office (1911 Main Ave, Durango, CO 81301)
Virtual KYR: Mortgage Loan Servicing & Loss Mitigation Homeowner Rights
When: May 14th at 6:00 p.m. MDT
Where: Online (RSVP here to get the link)
Virtual Know Your Rights: Mobile Homeowner Rights
When: May 15th at 6:00 p.m. MDT
Where: Online (RSVP here to get the link)
Colorado SunFest Panel: The Plight of Renters
When: May 16th at 11:15 a.m. MDT
Where: Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver (2201 S. Gaylord St., Denver, CO 80208)
EC3 Legal Clinic
When: May 21st at 6:00 p.m. MDT
Where: East Colfax Community Collective (1195 Newport St, Denver, CO 80220)
Senior Supportive Services Know Your Rights Presentation
When: May 23rd at 10:00 a.m.
Where: Senior Supportive Services (846 E 18th Ave, Denver, CO 80218)
CEDP in the News
CEDP’s Zach Neumann was featured in a Denver Post story about HB25-1235, which would give tenants with factual disputes in their eviction case the right to a jury trial.
CEDP’s Marissa Molina was quoted in the release of a new private equity analysis on the harm caused when private equity firms purchase apartments across the country.
Evictions in Denver are on track to break records again this year, and CEDP’s Zach Neumann was featured in a Denver7 story about the affordability challenges Coloradans looking for housing face every day.
Get Help
The Community Economic Defense Project provides rental assistance, legal assistance/representation, and resource navigation for clients facing eviction, housing insecurity, and other types of economic hardship. If you need assistance, please visit our website to get help.