Regional Housing Authority

March 9th, 2023

In 2007, the RHA changed its name from the Regional Housing Authority to the Regional Housing Alliance since traditionally Housing Authorities receive HUD funding and the RHA did not receive this funding

The Town of Bayfield joined the RHA IGA in July 2008 and the proportional shared of funding shifted:

La Plata County 59.2%

City of Durango 35.3%

Town of Ignacio 1.7%

Town of Bayfield 3.8%

In 2008, La Plata Homes Fund (LPHF) was created to be the non-profit arm of the RHA and LPHF secured a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) designation. The development of LPHF was seen as complimentary to RHA. The RHA is governed as a division of local government and LPHF is a 501(c)3 and so were able to access various types of funding sources. In 2008, the City of Durango adopted a Fair Share policy that requires 16% of all new homeownership units developed in the City to be affordable to the local workforce.

In 2010, the RHA received a grant from the State of Colorado Department of Local Affairs under the Energy and Mineral Impact Assistance Program to assist with making shared appreciation second mortgage loans to low- and moderate-income families (EIAF fund). The EIAF Fund was restricted by a 10-year contract. After this date, there was no State restrictions on the use of the shared appreciation second mortgage
fund.

In 2015 the RHA Board of Directors approved a strategic goal to develop 100 units of affordable housing
in La Plata County by 2020.

In early 2016 the RHA identified three areas of responsibility:

1. Fair Share Negotiations
2. Deploying the fee-in-lieu
3. Holding and developing land

The entities decided they would like to hold on to their land donations so there was no need for a land development roll for the RHA. Later in 2016 the RHA developed an Evolution Plan it decided to transition away from the existing model of two separate organizations (RHA and LPHF) with one Executive Director and migrate various actions and programs to other entities. As part of this Evolution Plan, the City of Durango Fair Share Ordinance, and the fee-in-lieu payments from Durango Mountain Resort that RHA was managing would be managed by LPHF. While contracting with the Southwest Colorado Council of Governments (SWCCOG) for staffing services. The agreements with the City and County took place in December 2016, which transitioned to SWCCOG staffing services on July 1, 2017. At that point, all other services were transferred to LPHF who then later expanded to include the other four counties and changed the name to Homes Fund.

In 2017, The final steps to transition into dormancy included the following:

Updating IGA and Bylaws (these were signed by the City, County, and Towns in first half of the year)

• The lending function of the RHA was given to the HomesFund (the contract was approved by RHA
  Board in 2016).
• The City of Durango began to administer the negotiations of Fair Share internally, while Homes Fund to deploy fee-in-lieu revenue for the County through the home buyer assistance program.
• The SWCCOG took over the administration function including administrative and fiscal management.

Accomplishments Prior to Dormancy:

The RHA provided mortgage assistance to over 150 families

Created 50 units of workforce rental housing

Bought over $15 million in State and Federal resources to the community to provide affordable housing including $9 million for Lumien and $6.8 Million for mortgage assistance capital and operating support

In 2019 and in 2020, it was discussed at various Board meetings that the RHA should determine if it is going to revitalize or fold permanently. There was no one specific meeting or vote that laid the groundwork for the revitalization of the RHA. During the discussions at the Board level, most members expressed at some point the uniqueness of the taxing authority of the organization, and that alone should not be lost. With housing becoming more and more of a concern from the RHA dormancy to late 2019 and especially into 2020, the appetite to close the RHA for good waned. In addition, La Plata County took an interest in the redevelopment of the RHA. Assistant County Administrator, Mike Segrest provided a potential road map for the organization in late 2020.

In 2020, the RHA’s EIAF loan were no longer restricted, and the assets of the loan portfolio were transferred to HomesFund per the agreement in 2016.

In 2020, the RHA board decided to resurge and stand up a functioning RHA. The RHA board held a retreat and built a road map for the future of the organization.  From the retreat, the RHA’s objectives were defined.

In 2021, the RHA board held a retreat and developed an action plan that defines goals for Leadership, Staffing, Funding and Development.

In 2022 the RHA board began the search for a new Executive Director. Although it failed to hire one, a new idea emerged to partner with the La Plata Economic Development Alliance (the Alliance) which was was working towards similar goals. The RHA entered into an administrative services contract with the Alliance in November of 2022 and a separate professional services contract in December of the same year.