Two summers ago, Chambliss walked across the state to spread the word about the cause. “One of my concerns was that there’s a perception that it’s only a Denver problem, or only an Aspen or a Breckenridge problems.  That’s why a year and a half ago I walked around the state—850 miles.  We stopped in 45 communities talking about their housing problems.  Every one of them indicated they had a housing problem, but for the most part they didn’t recognize the commonality of their housing problems.”

Chambliss says many of the cities and towns don’t realize there are resources to help them build affordable housing.  His goal since the walk has been to educate local governments and to encourage them to share ideas. 

Blake says the biggest challenge has been getting people to see the benefits to building housing for low-income Coloradoans.   “It’s in our own self-interest in making whole communities that work for everybody,” Chambliss explains.  “In our experience, the more people that can become homeowners and be involved in their communities... the better and stable the community can become as a whole."

As a retired architect, Chambliss is also able to use his professional skills to further his cause.  He’s helped to design two affordable housing complexes in Greeley and has encouraged other architects and developers to consider lower-income families when designing new neighborhoods.  “Architects are responsible for designing our cities.  We need to make sure when they design them they design them to be inclusive of everybody in the community.”

Blake hopes that his efforts will show others that affordable housing is attainable.  “What we need is for communities to pick up the ball and make sure that it happens.”

The road to ending homelessness may be long, but Chambliss believes they are making progress.  “Archimedes said give me a lever long enough and a place to stand and I can move the Earth.  I think we’re trying to move the Earth.”