Investing in Workforce Housing

La Plata County and its government partners are committed to enhancing affordable housing for our local workforce through the 3-Year Workforce Housing Investment Strategy. This plan focuses on key areas to address housing challenges and support community well-being.

3-Year Workforce Housing Investment Strategy | Prepared by: Cappelli Consulting – Project Moxie  |  Commissioned by: La Plata County Economic Development Alliance

Key Initiatives

Rental Housing:
    • Private Activity Bonds Coordination: Aligning bond allocations to support local housing projects.
    • Tax Credit Support: Assisting projects in obtaining tax credits, prioritizing community-sponsored developments.
    • Fee Waivers: Implementing policies to reduce fees for below-market housing developments.
    • Housing Catalyst Fund: Establishing a fund to assist non-tax credit rental projects with predevelopment costs.
    • Fort Lewis College Collaboration: Supporting the development of affordable rental housing for staff and faculty.
Homeownership:
    • Technical Assistance: Aiding municipalities in subdivision development and partnerships to produce below-market for-sale units.
    • First-time buyer support: Backing HomesFund’s homebuyer and mortgage assistance programs.
    • Modular Housing Feasibility: Exploring modular housing options to increase affordability.
Land Development Initiatives:
    • Regional Projects: Collaborating on large-scale developments that combine municipal, county, and private resources to create for-sale housing.
Preservation:
    • Mobile Home Park Preservation: Funding technical assistance and financing to preserve existing affordable housing options.
    • Private Activity Bond Allocation: Advocating for bond allocations to maintain current affordable rental housing.

Coordination and Funding

This strategy is powered by close collaboration with regional municipalities, nonprofit organizations, and private sector partners. By pooling resources and leveraging innovative funding mechanisms, including grants, tax credits, and private activity bonds, we’re ensuring a sustainable approach to workforce housing.

The Housing Catalyst Fund plays a pivotal role in bridging financial gaps, enabling vital projects to move forward. Learn more about our Housing Catalyst Fund here.

For a comprehensive understanding of our updated strategy and detailed plans, we encourage you to read the full 2024 updated strategy.

Read the Full Strategy

Funding Source Diagram

Current housing initiatives

Fortunately, housing work throughout La Plata County has been underway for some time and there are many existing policies, programs, and initiatives that have been very successful. The following chart existing initiatives by local governments and housing agencies:

Housing resources

Bayfield

Use: Utility relief
Current

Durango

Use: Mortgage assistance, fee offsets, infrastructure, development subsidy
Current

HSSW

Use: Emergency assistance fund
Current

La Plata County

Use: Affordable housing subsidy
Current

HomesFund

Use: Mortgage Assistance
Current

Use: Mobile home park preservation
Current

Durango

Use: Infrastructure, development subsidy
Current

Economic Alliance

Use: Security deposit program
Future

ECLT

Use: Mobile home park preservation
Current

La Plata County

Use: Housing revolving loan fund
Current

HSSW

Use: Property rehab
Current

Ignacio

Use: Infrastructure; acquisition
Current

LPC

Use: Possible land swaps with other agencies and existing sites
Future

Ignacio

Use: Town owned sites
Current

Durango

Use: Site prioritization for city property
Future

Fort Lewis College

Use: Site for below-market rental
Future

Bayfield

Use: Affordable development on city property
Current

Bayfield

Use: Land use application & building permit fees
Current

Durango

Use: Ad Hoc policy
Future

Housing education & advocacy

Ignacio

Use: Code evaluation
Current

In The Weeds

Use: Employer education
Current

9R

Use: Family housing
Current

HomesFund

Use: Supporting future and at-risk homeowners
Current

Policies & programs

Durango

Use: IZ Fees-in-lieu support mortgage assistance and other programs
Current

La Plata County

Use: Mortgage assistance
Current

Bayfield

Use: Fast track affordable developments
Future