Wendy’s Village is a new approach to solving one of America’s greatest workforce challenges.

Big ideas can create big questions. We’ve answered some of them here.

About Wendy’s Village

  • Wendy’s Village is a 40-home workforce housing community being developed through a partnership between Harrison School District 2 and We Fortify, a Colorado Springs nonprofit housing developer. Designed for district teachers and staff, the village will provide attainable rental housing that supports workforce stability, educator retention, and a stronger local education system.

  • Wendy’s Village will be located on Harrison School District 2 property near Mountain Vista Community School in southeast Colorado Springs. Utilizing district-owned land creates an opportunity to address housing affordability while making productive use of an existing public asset.

  • The village will consist of 20 duplex buildings, providing 40 individual residences for eligible district employees.

  • Each residence will offer approximately 352 square feet of thoughtfully designed living space, including modern amenities, efficient systems, and in-home laundry. The homes are designed to be comfortable, functional, and dignified.

  • Housing affordability has become a significant workforce challenge in Colorado Springs. Home prices and rental costs have increased substantially over the past two decades, while educator compensation has not kept pace. For early-career teachers and school staff, housing expenses can consume a disproportionate share of income, limiting their ability to save, establish financial stability, and remain in the profession. Wendy’s Village is a practical investment in workforce retention, educational continuity, and the long-term economic health of Colorado Springs.

  • Yes. The village will include a community center with a galley kitchen, a pergola, flexible gathering space, and outdoor dining areas. These amenities encourage social connection and a sense of community.

  • Wendy’s Village is being developed by We Fortify in partnership with Harrison School District 2. We Fortify is a Colorado Springs-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that develops housing communities to advance economic stability and opportunity. Its Noble Division creates attainable workforce housing while working toward a sustainable source of support for its broader charitable mission.

  • Wendy’s Village has received unanimous approval from Colorado Springs City Council without neighborhood objections. Harrison School District 2’s Board of Education approved the project, and the land lease has been executed. Engineering, site planning, and other predevelopment have also been completed. We Fortify is also finalizing arrangements with an experienced modular housing manufacturer.

Eligibility and Leasing

  • Wendy’s Village is intended for eligible Harrison School District 2 teachers and staff. The district will coordinate employee referrals and communicate eligibility requirements.

  • The planned starting rent is under $1000 per month, with adjustments tied to salary increases. This approach is intended to maintain affordability as employees progress in their careers. Final rental rates and leasing policies will be confirmed before occupancy.

  • The proposed structure includes renewable one-year leases, with residency available for up to three years. This provides a period of housing stability as employees establish careers and strengthen their financial position. Final terms will be confirmed before leasing begins.

Community Impact

  • Colorado Springs depends on teachers, healthcare professionals, first responders, and other essential workers to sustain a strong community. Yet housing costs increasingly challenge their ability to live near the institutions they serve. When essential employees cannot afford local housing, employers face recruitment and retention pressures. Attainable workforce housing is an investment in public education, economic resilience, and the long-term strength of the city.

  • Wendy’s Village provides an additional tool to recruit and retain qualified educators and staff. By reducing housing-related financial pressure, it can help employees establish stability, remain connected to their schools, and build longer-term careers within the district. Students and families benefit from a stable, committed workforce.

  • Wendy’s Village combines nonprofit development expertise, publicly owned land, private philanthropic investment, and a school district partnership to address a specific need. The approach directs resources toward long-term workforce affordability rather than maximizing financial returns, and is intended to offer a model other communities can adapt.

  • Noble Villages is We Fortify’s workforce housing division, focused on rental homes for essential professionals, including educators, healthcare workers, and first responders. Wendy’s Village is its first development. As a social enterprise, the division’s long-term operating surplus is intended to help support Elevate Villages, which provide supportive housing, individualized guidance, therapy, life skills education, and career pathways for young adults working to move out of poverty.

  • Philanthropic support helps advance development, create attainable homes for district employees, and establish a model that can be replicated throughout the region. To contribute, select the DONATE link on the Wendy’s Village website. Learn more about We Fortify’s mission and partnerships at WeFortify.org.

Development Progress and Future Opportunities

  • Wendy’s Village has received unanimous approval from Colorado Springs City Council without neighborhood objections. Harrison School District 2’s Board of Education approved the project, and the land lease has been executed. Engineering, site planning, and other predevelopment work have advanced substantially. The environmental study remains an outstanding requirement. We Fortify is also finalizing arrangements with an experienced Nebraska-based modular housing manufacturer after the closure of its previously identified Texas manufacturer.

  • Developing attainable housing requires closing the gap between construction costs and rents essential workers can reasonably afford. Rising construction, infrastructure, labor, and financing costs pressure developers to delay projects, reduce planned homes, or raise rents. Philanthropic investment helps bridge the development funding gap without transferring those costs to teachers and school staff.

  • Yes. Wendy’s Village is designed to demonstrate how publicly owned land, nonprofit development, private investment, and philanthropic support can work together. The objective extends beyond 40 homes: to establish a financially responsible development and funding approach that other school districts, municipalities, and public institutions can adapt.

  • To make a financial contribution to Wendy’s Village, please visit the DONATE link at the top of this website. Visit WeFortify.org to learn more about its housing initiatives, community partnerships, and opportunities to volunteer and support its mission.

  • Yes! Wendy’s Village is in the Enterprise Zone, and your donation of $250 or more is eligible for a 25% Colorado State Tax Credit!