Affordable Housing Initiatives

To expand our stock of affordable housing, Northwest Colorado is collaborating at the state, regional and local levels, as well as between agencies and between public and private entities to build more housing developments. All our communities are working on affordable housing initiatives to improve quality of life, supported by Colorado Division of Housing and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority.

Affordable Housing Projects Happening in Northwest Colorado

With the aid of Colorado Innovative Housing Planning grants, communities across the region have conducted Housing Needs Assessments (HNAs), strategic data-driven analyses of housing and demographics that also included five-year action plans to address gaps and barriers. Coordinated efforts and initiatives like these have already resulted in numerous projects under development, including:

  • Brown Ranch Project: Designed and zoned to provide affordable housing in a mix of single- and multi-family units, this 543-acre development in Steamboat Springs will add 2,264 additional housing units, offering both rental and ownership opportunities.
  • Prairie Run Project: Funded through an $8.6 million Transformation Housing Award from the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, Prairie Run in Hayden will provide 129 affordable housing units, including apartments, townhomes and live-work configurations; the development will be perpetually deed restricted.
  • Craig 8th Street Redevelopment Project: This 20-townhome complex for essential workers is located on the redeveloped site of the City of Craig’s former hospital, and will include 1,152-square-foot two-bedroom units and 1,368-square-foot three-bedroom units.
  • Sagewood West Affordable Housing: Rangely was one of the state’s first recipients of the voter-approved Proposition 123 Land Banking Funds, which helps set aside land for affordable housing. As a result, the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority (CHFA) was able to award a $240,000 grant for the Sagewood West project. Now, working with a coalition of public and private partners, Rangely is developing the project on six to eight riverfront lots to create affordable workforce housing.