In a presidential election year, political division not only highlights differing perspectives on a sense of belonging but also underscores deep-seated concerns about critical issues such as housing affordability, immigration, crime, and healthcare within Colorado's Hispanic/Latino communities. These divisions reflect broader societal challenges that impact how these communities navigate their daily lives, their access to essential resources, and their overall sense of inclusion and security.

 

“We believe that a sense of belonging – being connected to community and feeling that our contributions are valued in the places we call home – is essential to people’s health and well-being,” said Kyle Rojas Legleiter, senior director of policy at The Colorado Health Foundation. “This year, we asked respondents about the degree to which they experience a sense of belonging and, with a large sample size, we’re able to analyze and compare across key demographics, the relationship between respondents’ sense of belonging and the other challenges confronting them, such as high costs of living and housing.” 

 

Key Findings on Belonging and Political Beliefs

24% of Hispanic/Latino respondents said they lacked a sense of belonging because of their political beliefs. Reflecting the nationwide political divide, 44% of Hispanics and Latinos who identify as Republicans (as opposed to 18% of Democrats) reported feeling a lack of belonging.

 

For those who belong to minority groups in Colorado, a lack of belonging often stems from their ethnicity, language, background, culture, or language of instruction. Among LGBTQA+ Hispanic/Latino respondents, the most striking findings emerged: a remarkable 83% of Colorado Springs residents said their sexual orientation made them feel as though they didn’t belong.

Housing Costs: A Major Concern

As previously mentioned, housing costs remain a significant concern. Among Colorado's Latino/Hispanic community, 92% expressed extreme or very serious anxiety about housing costs. 

  • In Colorado Springs: 94% of Latinos aged 50 to 64 said housing costs were "extremely or very serious."
  • In the Denver Metro Region:
    • 96% of respondents aged 18–34 expressed extreme or very serious concerns.
    • 90% of those aged 35 and older reported an extremely or very serious problem.
    • 100% of Senior Latino/Hispanic respondents (75+) said the cost of housing is an extremely or very serious concern.

Illegal Immigration Concerns

Illegal immigration continues to be a hotly debated issue nationwide and has had a particular impact on the Colorado community. Hispanic/Latino respondents are acutely aware of this, experiencing it firsthand.

 

The Colorado Health Foundation (CHF) Pulse Poll revealed significant concern among Spanish-speaking respondents: 59% of Latinos in Colorado ranked this as an extremely or very serious issue, compared to 53% of the general population. Notably, 80% of Hispanic/Latino respondents in the Denver Metro area aged 50–64 viewed illegal immigration as an extremely or very serious concern. Among those earning $30-50K annually, 68% ranked it as an extremely or very serious problem, the highest among Hispanic/Latino respondents and the general population.

General Crime

Among the issues most concerning to Colorado's Hispanic and Latino communities, crime stands out as the top concern, with 71% of respondents rating it as extremely or very serious. In Colorado Springs, 81% of respondents shared this concern.

  • Political Affiliation Sub-Set:
    • 90% of Hispanic/Latino Republicans reported crime as an extremely or very serious problem.
    • This was compared to 67% of Democrats and 61% of unaffiliated respondents.
  • Age Breakdown:
    • 82% of seniors aged 75 and older, as well as youth aged 18–29, reported crime as extremely or very serious.

Racial Bias and Discrimination

Racial bias and discrimination continue to be significant issues. Among Hispanic/Latino respondents in Colorado aged 30-39, 49% said police violence and misconduct were extremely or very serious. In the Colorado Springs region, this figure jumps to a staggering 96%.

Healthcare: An Ongoing Challenge

Compared to other racial/ethnic groups, Hispanics and Latinos have a notably high rate of uninsured individuals. This is why medical and dental care remain critical concerns within these communities. Last year, 44% of respondents across Colorado said they postponed medical or dental care, and 25% postponed mental health care.

Income and Healthcare Access:

  • 64% of respondents earning under $30K postponed medical or dental care.
  • 54% of those in the $50K–75K bracket did the same, compared to only 30% of those earning $150K or more.

Health Insurance Worries:

  • 47% of Hispanic/Latino respondents expressed serious concern about themselves or someone in their household going without health insurance coverage.
  • This concern was most prevalent among those earning $30-50K, with 50% worried about losing coverage next year.
  • The regions most concerned were Morgan (56%) and the Denver Metro area (49%)

 

You can learn more about these findings, and others, by exploring our Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll website.