Dek: New statewide polling reveals that Black, Latino, and Native residents face disproportionate financial pressure, food insecurity, and mental‑health challenges.
Brief: The 2025 Colorado Health Foundation Pulse Poll reports that communities of color are experiencing significantly higher levels of economic instability than white residents. Black, Latino, and American Indian/Alaska Native respondents reported elevated rates of food insecurity, difficulty paying rent, and lack of access to affordable healthcare. Mental‑health strain—driven by rising costs, limited insurance coverage, and regional disparities—was also sharply higher among these groups. Advocates say the findings underscore the need for targeted state and local interventions.
Why It Matters: The poll provides real‑time data showing that racial inequities in Colorado are widening, not shrinking. For policymakers, nonprofits, and community organizers, the findings offer a clear mandate: economic and mental‑health supports must be tailored to the communities most affected by rising costs and structural barriers.