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Chaffee Housing Authority and Trust report progress on acquisitions, rentals and homeownership programs
Summary
The Chaffee Housing Authority and Chaffee Housing Trust briefed trustees on recent purchases (including two mobile home parks), management of nearly 100 units, grant applications for crossings and a strategy to deliver mixed‑income units and housing stability services.
The Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA) and Chaffee Housing Trust (CHT) updated the Buena Vista Board of Trustees July 22 on recent activity: new acquisitions, rental management, homeownership counseling, and upcoming grant applications to finance projects aimed at creating affordable housing across Chaffee County.
Why it matters: Trustees said workforce and low‑income housing are county priorities. CHA/CHT leaders asked for continued coordination with town planning and suggested opportunities for the town to support site entitlement or local matching funds for grant applications.
Key points presented by CHA executive staff: the authority formalized its executive leadership, added staff positions for real‑estate development and housing navigation, and reported nearly 100 units under management across several projects. The trust described two acquired mobile home parks — River Village (Johnson Village) and a park in Poncha Springs — with plans to rehab infrastructure and add modular or permanent replacement units in empty pads. The trust also said it is participating as a purchaser/developer partner for the BD Crossing / Paul Andrews project and has been invited to apply for an approximately $1.9 million grant to complement a previously awarded $4.0 million equity award.
CHA/CHT leaders said operating costs for some acquired rental properties have been higher than budgeted, and that maintaining affordable rents at low AMIs (area‑median‑income percentages) requires careful funding stacks and operational planning. Staff described partnership options for small‑scale homeownership projects, lease‑up timelines, and a newly launched renters’ newsletter and housing resource portal to improve communication about available rentals.
Trustees asked for clear AMI (area‑median‑income) definitions and asked CHA/CHT to supply rent and income levels alongside AMI targets in future updates. CHA/CHT staff answered technical questions about modular housing, resident ownership options for mobile home parks, and pipeline coordination for state programs such as low‑interest loans or CHFA financing.
Ending: Trustees welcomed regular updates and asked CHA/CHT to share materials that the board can use during the comprehensive plan update and code discussions. CHA/CHT requested the town consider local commitments that can be quantified in grant applications (local skin‑in‑the‑game), and trustees requested AMI and rent numbers be shown in future briefings for clarity.
