BoulderMOD Program Offers Affordable Homes Built by Students

First few modular homes in Ponderosa Neighborhood to be sold with below-market mortgages

Mar. 21, 2026 at 1:18am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The BoulderMOD program, a partnership between the Boulder Valley School District, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, and the City of Boulder, is placing the first few modular homes it has built with the help of high school students in the Ponderosa Mobile Home Park. These homes will be offered to existing Ponderosa residents with affordable mortgages, making homeownership more accessible.

Why it matters

The BoulderMOD program aims to address the affordable housing crisis in Boulder by leveraging student labor to build modular homes that can be sold at below-market rates. This innovative approach provides hands-on learning opportunities for students while creating much-needed affordable housing options for low-income residents in the community.

The details

The first four modular homes built through the BoulderMOD program are now being placed in the Ponderosa Neighborhood. Juniors and seniors from the Boulder Valley School District's building trades program have been responsible for around 80% of the construction work. The mortgage payments for these homes will be capped at 30% of the buyer's gross monthly income, making them affordable for low-income families. Once all 70 modular homes are placed in Ponderosa, the 35-40 existing residents will be offered the first opportunity to purchase them.

  • The first nails were fired in the construction of the homes in early February 2025.
  • The homes are expected to be completed and ready for occupancy later this year.

The players

Dan McColley

Executive Director and CEO for Flatirons Habitat for Humanity, the organization leading the BoulderMOD program.

Chad Reed

VP of programs and strategy at Ivory Innovations, an organization that has recognized the BoulderMOD program as a finalist for their Ivory Prize.

Boulder Valley School District

The school district whose building trades program students have contributed significantly to the construction of the modular homes.

City of Boulder

A partner in the BoulderMOD program, providing funding and support to make the affordable homes a reality.

Ponderosa Mobile Home Park

The neighborhood in North Boulder where the modular homes are being placed, with existing residents given the first opportunity to purchase them.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We fired the first nails, the first week of February [2025], and those nails were fired by Boulder Valley School District, juniors and seniors.”

— Dan McColley, Executive Director and CEO, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

“If they can afford a mortgage of $175,000, that's what they buy these homes for. The rest of those construction costs are covered through really generous families and foundations, money from the state, money from the city and money from the county to provide a home that is safe and stable and affordable for these families.”

— Dan McColley, Executive Director and CEO, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity

“Early-adopters face challenges in financing and permitting and trade coordination. For the benefits of off-site construction, in terms of time and cost savings to materialize, someone has to go first, and so BoulderMOD is a model for how communities can do that intentionally.”

— Chad Reed, VP of Programs and Strategy, Ivory Innovations

What’s next

The remaining modular homes in the BoulderMOD program are expected to be placed and completed later this year, at which point the 35-40 existing Ponderosa Mobile Home Park residents will be offered the first opportunity to purchase the affordable homes.

The takeaway

The BoulderMOD program demonstrates how innovative public-private partnerships, student involvement, and a focus on affordable housing solutions can come together to create meaningful change in a community struggling with housing affordability. This model could be replicated in other areas facing similar challenges.