Last of Marshall Fire Donations Used for Affordable Housing

Community Foundation of Boulder County allocates final $6 million to new affordable housing projects, stirring mixed reactions from some survivors.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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In the years since the Marshall Fire impacted thousands of people in Colorado, the Community Foundation of Boulder County has been distributing the $43 million it received in donations to survivors. This past week, the foundation announced it has spent the last $6 million on future affordable housing projects, which has generated mixed reactions from some survivors who are still struggling financially to rebuild.

Why it matters

The Marshall Fire was one of the most destructive wildfires in Colorado history, destroying over 1,000 homes and causing widespread damage. The Community Foundation's decision to allocate the final donation funds towards affordable housing aims to provide long-term community support, but some survivors feel the money could have been better used to directly aid those still recovering.

The details

The $6 million will be divided between three affordable housing projects led by Impact Development Fund, Penrose LLC, and Flatirons Habitat for Humanity. The foundation says these projects will prioritize applications from individual fire survivors, but some like Jen Hart are skeptical, as they are still paying off loans and debts from rebuilding their own homes. The foundation's CEO, Tatiana Hernandez, acknowledges the financial struggles many survivors still face, and says the foundation will continue providing recovery support through 2027 for those who qualify.

  • The Marshall Fire occurred several years ago, impacting thousands in Colorado.
  • The Community Foundation of Boulder County announced the final $6 million in donations will be used for affordable housing projects this past week.
  • The foundation's recovery support program continues to provide financial assistance to qualified survivors, with applications open through January 31, 2027.

The players

Community Foundation of Boulder County

A nonprofit organization that received $43 million in donations to support Marshall Fire survivors and is now allocating the final $6 million towards affordable housing projects.

Jen Hart

A Marshall Fire survivor in Louisville, Colorado who is still in debt from the expensive rebuilding process and is skeptical about the foundation's decision to use the final funds for affordable housing.

Tatiana Hernandez

The CEO of the Community Foundation of Boulder County, who explains the foundation's rationale for the affordable housing projects and their continued support for individual survivors.

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What they’re saying

“We took a second [mortgage] out on the house. We owe family members for helping us rebuild. And then we have our Community Foundation loans.”

— Jen Hart, Marshall Fire Survivor

“Folks who have rebuilt might not feel completely recovered, when some of them have loans that they need to pay off for their home rebuilds. On the positive side, we've seen people really excited about what it means to maybe bring some back, some renters who were displaced, with some options. It means for the community to have some dedicated affordable housing.”

— Tatiana Hernandez, CEO, Community Foundation of Boulder County

What’s next

The Community Foundation of Boulder County says its recovery support program will continue providing financial assistance to qualified Marshall Fire survivors through 2027, with applications open until January 31 of that year.

The takeaway

The Community Foundation's decision to allocate the final Marshall Fire donation funds towards affordable housing projects highlights the ongoing challenges and mixed reactions from some survivors who are still struggling to recover financially. While the foundation aims to support the broader community, some feel the money could have been better used to directly aid those still in need.