Affordable Housing

Some local officials in the Mountain West say federal land could be used in certain cases to ease the region's housing crisis. But they view a plan from Senate Republicans as going much farther than the solutions that have worked in their areas.

The announcement comes as many cities and rural communities across the Mountain West struggle with housing affordability. About half the land in the West is owned by the federal government.

Affordable housing is a top concern and was the topic of discussion during the Western Governors’ Association winter meeting in Las Vegas recently. They discussed a number of options.

The Residences at Durango will provide below-market rentals for people earning no more than 60% of the city’s $76,177 median household income

Fort Lewis College’s first-in-state program served 108 students in its inaugural year.

A guest post from Dave Marston and Writers on the Range looks at housing prices in Durango and southwest Colorado.

Many approaches to homelessness restrict access to services based on certain criteria. But some service providers are attempting to shift the narrative by offering housing first.

On June 7, the Town of Crested Butte declared a local disaster emergency in response to the affordable housing crisis. It was the first of its kind among mountain communities in the West. The declaration allowed for a creative housing solution.

The Bridge Shelter in Cortez is only open in the winter months. The shelter's executive director says “We literally have no options for families right now..."

With rents at mobile home parks rising across the mountain west, some residents are taking matters into their own hands to keep prices down. One park in Durango, Colorado, was purchased by residents earlier this year and is being run as a co-op. Now, other communities in Southwest Colorado are considering emulating the model.