(WIDEFIELD, Colo.) — Widefield School District 3 (WSD3) hosted several partner nonprofits in a groundbreaking ceremony to celebrate the beginning of Rising Moon, a new development that will provide safe, stable, and affordable homes for educators and their families in El Paso County.
The homes will be in Southeast Colorado Springs, near the intersection of East Drennan and South Marksheffel Roads, with 41 lots available for development. The initiative aims to support WSD3 employees by providing them with affordable housing options close to their workplace.
According to the District, the Rising Moon development will feature the new Housing for Educators program, a unique partnership between Careers in Construction Colorado (CICC), Pikes Peak Habitat for Humanity, and WSD3. The program will bring these three organizations together to build homes that will help address the critical need for affordable housing in the community.
“In 2026, we will begin putting in the infrastructure, the roads, the sidewalks, things of that nature. We’ll be able to then start to see buildings go up and houses go up in early 2027,” said Aaron Hoffman, the district’s Superintendent, during a previous interview with FOX21 News. “We’re hoping to have staff members move in and potentially have the opportunity to live here in 2027.”
Although the initial application window has passed, those interested in future opportunities can monitor Widefield D3’s website.
“This initiative is the embodiment of what community collaboration should look like. By building homes for the educators shaping our future, our students are also building purpose, skills, and pride,” said Renee Zentz, CEO and President of CICC. “Projects like this don’t just teach construction—they teach compassion, responsibility, and the real-world impact of skilled trades. We’re proud to be part of a partnership that lifts up both the workforce of today and the workforce of tomorrow.”