Narrative: e. 1.

Colorado farmworkers continue to have issues locating affordable housing near work locations. With the loss of housing during recent fires and past flooding, this had made it much more difficult. Migrant farmworkers have an increasingly difficult time finding affordable housing that is available for short-term rental. Housing prices in rural Colorado have risen with housing values. Rental prices for a one bedroom house in rural Colorado averages about $800 per month with prices of a three bedroom averaging $1,550. Colorado has six farmworker-designated housing units around the state but they are not enough to fulfill housing needs. The Community Resource & Housing Development Corporation is in the planning stages to build additional farmworker housing. The new unit will be in the Adams County area but will still take several years for its completion.

The Agricultural Outreach Plan sets policies, and objectives in providing W-P services to the agricultural community, specifically Migrant and Seasonal Farm Workers (MSFWs). The Colorado Department of Labor & Employment (CDLE) provides these services through the OneStop Career Center system to ensure that MSFWs receive the full range of employment, training, and educational services on a basis which is qualitatively equivalent and quantitatively proportionate to the services provided to non-MSFWs. This Ag Plan presents the following information: 

• Assessment of need:  An assessment of the unique needs of farmworkers in the area based on past and projected agricultural and farmworker activity in the State to include employment, training, and housing. A review of the resources available and their effectiveness is included. 
• Outreach activities:  A description of the ways the State will ensure that MSFWs have equal access to employment opportunities. A description of the State’s proposed outreach activities including strategies on how to contact farmworkers who are not being reached by the normal intake activities conducted by the employment service offices to include numerical goals and amount of full time staff. 
• Services provided to MSFWs through the One-Stop Delivery System:  A description of the ways the State will ensure that MSFWs have equal access to employment opportunities. Coordinating outreach efforts with WIOA Title I section 167 grantees and other public and private community service agencies and MSFW groups. These outreach activities will include the explanation of services available at the one-stop centers, explanation of their basic rights and the marketing of the employment services complaint system. 
• Services provided to agricultural employers through the One-Stop Delivery System:  A description of how the State will promote and provide labor exchange services and identify agricultural employers expected to employ MSFWs. 
• Review and comments from key stakeholders