Housing Resources of Western Colorado

Homeownership preservation and promotion - homeownership preservation and promotion combines both the weatherization program and Housing rehabilitation loan program. Since 1988, the weatherization program has provided cost-effective, energy-efficient home improvements to homeowners and renters. Weatherization services are free to income qualified residents in 12 Western Colorado counties. Since 1991, the Housing rehabilitation loan program has provided income qualifying homeowners in mesa, garfield, and rio blanco counties access to low interest-rate loans to repair and maintain their homes. The program is designed to finance essential repairs to improve health, safety, energy conservation, major and/or minor deficiencies, and accessibility modifications.

Real estate development - in the last 4 years, we have primarily focused our development Resources for single-family development through the self-help Housing program including the development of the butner neighborhood 40 home community. Started in 1997, the self-help Housing program is a homeownership sweat equity program that gives income qualified families the means to construct their own homes. Participating families perform approximately 65% of the construction labor, under qualified supervision, on each other's homes. The usda rural development provides a subsidized interest rate on the participants' construction financing and their permanent financing. The combination of the subsidized interest rate and the contribution of labor substantially reduces the cost of each home and provides the owners with an equity boost from the outset of their ownership tenure.

Asset and property management -our assets include 180 rental units with a variety of bedroom types and units, 16 lots intended for self help development (8 in mesa county and 8 in montrose county), 4 lots intended for affordable rental units in mesa county, and land in mesa county of approximately 14 acres intended for future affordable Housing development. Our rental properties have healthy debt ratios, allowing us to keep our rents low. The asset management plan outlines Housing preservation projects funded through grants and replacement reserves through a watch list of repairs to ensure safe and healthy properties. The property management program provides rental Housing to qualified residents. Our property rental rates vary depending upon the market and the board asset management committee evaluation.

Housing counseling and education - the services provided through the Housing counseling and education program include financial coaching, financial capability workshops, homebuyer education classes, prepurchase counseling, postpurchase coaching, rental counseling, rental and mortgage assistance, and foreclosure prevention. We are a hud-approved counseling agency.community building and engagement - our community building and engagement program builds local vital communities that provide equitable opportunities for people to thrive. We strive to reach our vision by connecting people, places, and local community systems. The program provides community organizing activities that help residents and other area stakeholders come together to develop and provide leadership to build a strong community. The community building and engagement program facilitates the montrose Housing network.