top of page
CHA logo v6_Logo_4c.png
What is the Chaffee Housing Authority?

For more information on the Chaffee Housing Authority, please visit chaffeehousingauthority.org

The Chaffee Housing Authority was formed in October 2020 by a joint agreement between Chaffee County, Salida, and Buena Vista. All three of those jurisdictions contribute funding to support the CHA. Even though the CHA works closely with local governments, it is an independent public organization with its own Board of Directors.

What do housing authorities do?

Housing authorities have been operating across the US since the 1930s and are focused on ensuring that housing is available to community members who need it, especially those with lower incomes. Housing authorities can develop, own and/or operate housing facilities and programs that support low- to moderate-income households and employees within their service areas. Housing Authorities also educate the communities on Fair Housing and Landlord Tenant laws, as well as advocate for resources through state and federal partnering agencies.

What will Chaffee Housing Authority do?

The CHA recognizes the major housing challenges facing our County and is looking forward to being a part of the solution. The CHA has embarked on a strategic planning process in 2021, to focus our activities. The strategic planning process will be informed by community input, a housing needs assessment, and input from partners and stakeholders. The strategic plan will be launched in early 2022.

For more information on the Chaffee Housing Authority, please visit chaffeehousingauthority.org

_edited.jpg
The CHA has conducted a survey that will inform its first strategic planning process about housing challenges in Chaffee County.
View the results HERE.

Chaf fee County Housing
Challenges Survey Results
-
view the CHA Survey results HERE.

What is the definition of Affordable Housing? 

Housing is considered affordable if the household spends no more than 30% of their income on housing expenses. Households who spend 30%-50% of their income on housing expenses are considered “housing burdened”, and households spending over 50% if their income on housing expenses are considered “extremely housing burdened.”

Currently in Chaffee County, about 64% of households in Chaffee County are considered extremely housing burdened. 75% of renters are considered extremely housing- burdened;

  • 37% of people over age 65 are extremely housing-burdened;

  • 84% of single persons between ages 18-64 are extremely housing burdened.

 

What is considered “Very Low-Income,” “Low- Income,” and “Moderate-Income” ?

Income is typically referred to as a percentage of our Area Median Income, which in Chaffee County is currently $51,500 for a single person (it increases as household size increases).

Very Low-Income households earn less than 50% AMI;

Low-income households earn between 50 – 60% AMI;

Moderate-Income households earn between 60% - 80% AMI.

Updated data can be found here.

What is Jane’s Place?

Jane’s Place is a proposed mixed-use development that will bring 17 housing units and a commercial, non-profit development center to the corner of 3rd Street and Highway 291 in Salida, Colorado. The project was designed in response to a series of community conversations with area non-profits and employers, with a focus of meeting their workforce and customer needs. The Chaffee County Community Foundation is under contract to purchase the land.

What Role will the CHA play in Jane’s Place?

The Chaffee Housing Authority is envisioned to be the public entity that owns and operates the project.  The operating income from the project will pay a land lease to the CCCF, allows a tenant to build or use a piece of land, and in return pay rent on the land which will hold the funds in an affordable housing account to be use to support future projects in Chaffee County.

The Director of Housing has obtained a Technical Assistance grant through the Colorado Housing Finance Authority’s (CHFA’s) Small-scall Housing Innovation Program (SHIP).  This technical assistance will focus on stress-testing the construction and operation proforma’s, establishing the single purpose entity ownership structure for the project, and assist in identify gap funding.  This assistance will also assist the CHA Board of Directors in evaluating the role that CHA will ultimately play in the project.

For more information, visit https://www.housinghealthchaffee.org/janesplace 

GET INVOLVED

To stay updated on our efforts and ways that you can be involved contact us at info@housinghealthchaffee.org

bottom of page