Espero Opens!
REGIONAL HOUSING NEEDS ASSESSMENT
Regional Housing Needs Assessment August 2021
In 2021, Housing Solutions for the Southwest and The Southwest Colorado Council of Governments worked with Root Policy Research to complete a Regional Housing Needs Assessment. This report helps to guide the work of both organizations and understand the dynamics impacting housing affordability. Thank you to those who helped and invested in our work, including:
- Government leaderships across the 5-County Region
- Durango Area Association of Realtors
- Local housing nonprofits
- Local housing authorities
- Business leaders
- Citizens
- Nonprofit workers
- Healthcare workers
- Economic development agencies
- Consultants
- CHFA, Colorado Division of Housing
Also, thank you to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs and Enterprise Community Partners for investing in our work!
Newsletter Summer 2021
Housing Solutions celebrates serving Southwest Colorado for 40 years, with 40 brand new affordable housing units! Espero Apartments has been in development for many years, with construction beginning during the pandemic. Despite this tremendous challenge, Espero is on schedule and budget and will be completed by the fall of this year, housing 40 residents. Espero is funded with multiple public and private resources, including local funding, donations, foundational funding, and government funding, including the Colorado Division of Housing and Low Income Housing Tax Credits through the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA). All 1-bedroom units are reserved for people exiting homelessness, earning at or below 30% AMI, and living with a disability. Housing Solutions for the Southwest and BlueLine Development are co-developers of Espero Apartments, with the City of Durango donating the land. Service partners include AXIS Health System, Manna, Southwest Center for Independence, and members of the local Continuum of Care.
As the Executive Director of Housing Solutions for the last ten years, no year has been both as challenging and rewarding as 2020. The good news is that housing programs are growing, bringing in multiple sources of rental subsidies, units, and programs to SW Colorado. For example, Housing Solutions is significantly expanding the Housing Choice Voucher Program (commonly referred to as “Section 8”), which currently provides approximately $1.5 million in rental assistance to the region each year. One of the challenges is that people struggle to locate units that meet the payment standards for the program. As a result, Housing Solutions consistently advocates for increased payment standards, but increases are not keeping up with the recent exponential increases in rent. This reality underscores the need to create new and preserve existing affordable housing.
Housing Solutions provided hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional emergency rental assistance funds to respond to the pandemic while being nimble enough to change our service model to assist people in many different ways. The flexibility, innovation, and persistence of the Housing Solutions staff made it possible to increase the agency’s capacity. I never envisioned building a bubble with an outdoor heater to allow staff to continue to meet with clients outdoors through the winter. Responding to the housing crisis has required adaptability, creativity, and patience from the entire Housing Solutions team and the people we serve. Despite our increasing capacity, there is a need for unprecedented collaborative efforts to address affordable housing across the region. The time has come to make bold, lasting, and impactful changes to improve housing opportunities. The communities in SW Colorado are up to the challenge.
Each day, we work with residents who share experiences of substantial rent increases, loss of rental housing because their home is being sold or transitioned into a vacation rental, and the frustration of would-be first-time homebuyers in this highly competitive market. Housing for workers of all types and income levels is crucial to the fabric of this community. Our housing counselors assist clients who are making difficult choices about essential needs, including food, healthcare, medicine, transportation, and housing. The counselors’ knowledge about local resources can be tremendously helpful. The Community Emergency Assistance Coalition (CEAC) program increasingly works with people who have never sought emergency assistance of any kind, earn a “livable” wage, but are housing cost-burdened.
In response to the pandemic, communities, governments, organizations, and individuals are rethinking almost everything, from bump-outs downtown to housing. I am encouraged by steps taken nationally, in Colorado, and by our local leaders to address the housing crisis. Positive changes include revisions to housing policy that promote affordable housing, laws that protect renters in Colorado, expansion of rental assistance programs, property owner assistance for unpaid rent, and significant collaborative efforts locally to address housing needs. Potential funding opportunities, proposed policy initiatives, and a collective desire to address housing affordability make me hopeful.
On behalf of every community member the agency has worked with, I want to express my sincere gratitude to those who have supported and trusted Housing Solutions over the last 40 years. The list of supporters and collaborative partners includes those serving a role on the Board of Directors, funders of all types, other agencies, community leaders, local businesses, and many more. Another thank you goes to the Housing Solutions staff, past and present. Their hard work, every single day, has kept the agency effective and relevant for 40 years and into the future.
In Gratitude,
Elizabeth Salkind
Continuum of Care (COC) & Coordinated Entry System
Southwest Colorado Coordinated Entry System & SW Continuum of Care
We are part of the Balance of State Continuum of Care (all rural areas of Colorado). The SW CoC and Coordinated Entry System is a collaborative group that meets 1-2 times monthly to work toward solutions for homelessness, better collaboration and selection/referral to HUD and State funded homeless resources.
In addition, members provide referrals to the Coordinated Entry List utilizing the VI-SPDAT prioritization tool, participate in the annual Point-In-Time count and work to bring resources to the community in a collaborative way. New members should be trained in the VI-SPDAT by watching the video provided here. After watching the video please document it at this link .
To learn more about what a CoC and Coordinated Entry- link.
Southwest Colorado Continuum of Care Members
Housing Solutions for the Southwest- Managing Agency
Volunteers of America- Home Again Program, Community Shelter, Back Home Veteran’s Program and Veteran’s Transitional Housing
Manna Soup Kitchen
AXIS Health System
Mercy Regional Medical Center
Southwest Center for Independence
La Plata Collaborative Management Program
Pinon Project
VA VASH Program
School District 9-R
Community Compassion Outreach
Neighbors in Need Alliance
Durango Police Department
San Juan Basin Public Health Department
Oak Tree Resources
March 2018 Newsletter
Housing Solutions Updates November 2018
Our building is undergoing renovations to accommodate our growing programs. We will be open our regular office hours through the construction, but you may experience some inconvenience.
We are hiring! 32 hours per week Emergency Services Counselor. For more information on how to apply contact: bkorce@swhousingsolutions.com Deadline to apply is 11/15!
Housing Solutions upcoming holidays:
Veterans Day: Monday, 11/12/18
Thanksgiving: Thursday, 11/22/18 (always closed on Fridays)
Christmas: Monday, December 23rd and Tuesday, December 25th
New Year: Tuesday, January 1st 2019
Transitional Housing & Rental Assistance for Victims of Crime
If you are a victim of crime and that experience has impacted your ability to pay rent, please contact Lora at 970-259-1086. This program is in partnership with Volunteers of America and funded through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA).
This program, in partnership with the Office on Violence Against Women at the US Department of Justice, offers rental assistance, case management, and supportive services to survivors who are homeless. Call Lora at 970-259-1086 for more information. (this program is not currently taking applications)
Rehab Program Notice to Potential Contractors
Notice regarding Rehab Program: Housing Solutions is restructuring the Rehab Program and seeking new contractors. We are seeking out quality contractors interested in working on home repair jobs in the 5 county area of S.W. Colorado. Appropriate insurance is required. We may also need qualified inspectors on an as needed basis. Please contact Elizabeth Salkind at esalkind@swhousingsolutions.com. Housing Solutions has also requesting that the State of Colorado allow Steve Meadows, currently Rehab Construction Manager, be allowed to bid on Rehab jobs, which would be an exception to the Conflict of Interest policy.
Energy Outreach Colorado
Energy Outreach Colorado Application
Energy Outreach’s energy bill assistance program helps low-income Coloradans who are past due on their energy bill and in danger of having their home energy shut off. Once a household qualifies for energy assistance, a payment for a portion of their bill is made directly to their energy vendor. Energy Outreach’s program works cooperatively with Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP), which is federally funded and administered through the Colorado Department of Human Services. LEAP accepts energy bill assistance applications between November 1 and April 30. LEAP Website
Housing Solutions accepts applications Monday-Thursday 8:30 am- 4:00 pm. Energy Outreach funding is available in cycles, for this reason it is advisable to contact Lori at our front desk 970-259-1086 to make sure we have funding and that you are eligible for EOC. If we have exhausted our funds several other local agencies provide Energy Outreach:
La Plata Family Center- 970-385-4747
Salvation Army Durango- 970-317-2094 or carla.wood@usw@salvationarmy.org
Pinon Project- Montezuma, Dolores Counties- 970-564-1195
SOUTHWEST HORIZON RANCH
Tammy Chambers- Southwest Horizon Ranch Manager; tchambers@swhorizonranch.com
970-385-7932
Randy Shepard- Maintenance Technician
Eufemio Razo-Garcia- Maintenance
SOCORRO
Jim Fait- Manager -socorro@swhousingsolutions.com
HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS PROGRAMS
Molly Fisher- Case Manager- Coordinated Entry, By-Name Waitlist; mfisher@swhousingsolutions.com
Ext. 26
Astra Clendenning- Case Manager/Housing Navigation, VI-SPDAT triage; aclendenning@swhousingsolutions.com
Ext. 34
Kelsey Schumaker- Case Manager/Future Espero Site Coordinator; kschumaker@swhousingsolutions.com
Ext. TBD
Brigid Korce- Development Director
bkorce@swhousingsolutions.com
Ext. 21
FRONT DESK
Lori Nightingale- Front Desk Coordinator
WEATHERIZATION & HEAT
Marcy Child- Program Director
Join Us for Season’s Anniversary Party, a Fundraiser for Housing Solutions, December 13th
Private Party, You’re Invited!
Seasons’ 22ND Anniversary Community Event
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 6:00 TO 9:00 PM
The tradition continues!
The Winter Solstice of 1994 brought a new dining experience of
fresh, seasonal cuisine to Durango.
The Spring Equinox of 2009 emerged with fresh beginnings.
In celebration of the Season, and in the spirit of community and friendship,
please help support Housing Solutions for the Southwest
Minimum $40 per person ($100 Value) donations will be accepted at the door ☼ no RSVP necessary