Chaffee Housing Authority Update
Q3 2026
Proposition 123 Cycle 1: What Regional Collaboration Delivered — and What Comes Next
Written by Brett Landin, CHA Board Member
Chaffee County has brought nearly $17 million in Colorado’s state supported Proposition 123 funding into local affordable housing development and programming producing more affordable housing than any county in the central mountains.
To access this funding, all four local jurisdictions in Chaffee County opted in by filing a 3-year commitment in 2023 pledging to increase affordable housing by 3%, or by a total of 104 units, by the end of 2026. As this first cycle comes to a close, what stands out isn't just the dollars. All four Chaffee jurisdictions — the County, Salida, Buena Vista, and Poncha Springs — met their commitments, and by a comfortable margin, because our region chose to work together. On October 21st, the State of Colorado confirmed that Chaffee County’s compliance documentation for the first cycle was accepted, exceeding the 3% target with a total of 127 affordable housing units.
How The Region Met Its Commitments
When meeting Prop 123 commitments, neighboring communities are permitted to share excess housing units built in one community with others through regional cooperation, provided the participating governments put a formal agreement in writing. The Chaffee Housing Authority supported the Prop 123 commitments process coordinating local planners, government administrators, and the Chaffee Housing Trust to document the regional accounting and execute the Memorandum of Understanding between the four local government elected boards. This MOU allowed every jurisdiction in the county to satisfy its Cycle 1 commitment with the Town of Buena Vista sharing 6 excess housing credits with the City of Salida.
The Projects Behind The Numbers
The housing behind our success is the result of many successful partnerships: CHA, the Chaffee Housing Trust, private developers, and local government, each doing a piece the others couldn't do on their own. CHA's public-private partnerships delivered 33 units at The Crossing Apartments in Buena Vista and 20 at the Flour Mill in Salida. The Chaffee Housing Trust added homeownership units in all three municipalities — 14 at The Crossing and 7 at Forest Creek Cabins in Buena Vista; 4 at Spartan Heights in Poncha Springs; and 6 at West End in Salida. A CHA/CHT partnership preserved 31 units at River Village Mobile Home Park and 12 at Mountain View Mobile Home Park. Two of these projects, the Flour Mill and West End, are also part of Salida's Inclusionary Housing Program, stacking city policy on top of the state funding.
These homes are only part of the story. Prop 123 establishes income thresholds for rents (60% AMI) or home sales price (100% AMI) that all units must be equal to or be under. Our community also produced an equal number of units, both rental and homeownership, in the “missing middle” price range that’s desperately needed by the community, but not counted by the state towards Prop 123 commitments.
Interested in learning more about Chaffee County’s accomplishment? Check out the Chaffee County Prop123 Dashboard and explore the many different projects (and dollars!) CHA and our partners brought to the community over the past three years.
Cycle 2 Will Be Challenging But Now We Have More Experience
New commitments for the second three-year cycle, 2027–2030, are due to the state by November 1, and the methodology for calculating them has changed from a flat percentage to being linked to building permits. Because building permits have increased over the past three years, local commitments have also increased for each community. The more housing we build the more affordable housing we need. Early estimates indicate that each jurisdiction will need to create more units than it did in the last cycle.
This increase in commitments occurs at the same time Prop 123 money is being diverted to help close the state budget deficit reducing Prop 123 resources over the next three years. Compounding this challenge, federal funding that has supported related work — including housing for homelessness and housing insecurity — is tightening, putting pressure on our already small local safety-net.
While meeting Cycle 2 commitments may face challenges due to increased competition for limited state funds available to support new projects, CHA is working with local governments and nonprofit partners now to identify a strategy for being successful under a leaner funding environment. The next three years will require more coordination between the jurisdictions in terms of project timing, submitting financing proposals, number and type of units, etc. The good news is that there are already many new housing projects in the development pipeline and the relationships established over the past three years will continue.
Let’s celebrate the win for what we’ve accomplished in the last three years: a proactive and engaged housing authority, an ambitious housing trust, developers and nonprofits willing to bring projects forward, and four local governments willing to invest in housing and share credit rather than compete for it. That combination is what turned a modest local commitment into over 300 homes and made Chaffee County a shining rural example across the state. It's a fitting bookend to Cycle 1: a successful commitment period made possible by strong partnerships that got the whole region across the finish line.
The West End, a Chaffee Housing Trust homeownership project that was included in the Prop 123 commitments count. All homes at West End have been sold.
Seeking At Large Board Member
Do you want to make a difference in your community? The CHA Board of Directors is recruiting! We are looking for individuals who can help lead the Housing Authority as we work towards our goal of housing for all. Specifically we are looking for the following skills:
A clear understanding of the complexity and nuances of housing policy and the challenge of housing affordability in mountain communities.
A strong skillset in organizational finance, preferably with government fund accounting experience.
Experience with multi-unit property management to help the CHA ensure safe, secure, well-maintained housing communities promoting resident well-being and the financial stability of our rental assets.
A willingness to roll up your sleeves and do more than just show up for meetings. This volunteer position requires approximately 2-4 hours per week.
Apply on the CHA website here.
Please contact brett.landin@chaffeehousingauthority.org with any questions.
More Than a Roof: Building Community Through Conversation
Housing is more than simply having a roof over our heads. It is the foundation upon which we build our lives, raise our families, pursue education, maintain employment, and establish a sense of belonging within our communities. When housing becomes unstable, the consequences extend far beyond the walls of a home, affecting nearly every aspect of an individual's well-being.
As part of NestQuest, supported through an Arts in Society grant focused on reframing the discussion about housing, Chaffee Housing Authority (CHA), alongside The Book Club and Chaffee County Public Health, brought community members together through a shared reading of Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City by Matthew Desmond, the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winner for non-fiction. The book follows eight families in Milwaukee as they navigate the challenges of housing insecurity, offering readers an intimate look at the difficult decisions families face when their most basic need for shelter is uncertain.
Although the stories unfold in Milwaukee, the larger questions they raise resonate with communities across the country, including our own here in Chaffee County.
What does housing instability mean for a parent's ability to provide consistency for their children?
How does the uncertainty of losing one's home affect physical and mental health?
What opportunities become inaccessible when a significant portion of a household's income must be dedicated to simply maintaining shelter?
And perhaps most importantly, what responsibility do we share as a community in ensuring our neighbors have the opportunity to thrive?
These are not merely questions about housing. They are questions about public health, economic opportunity, education, dignity, and the kind of community we want to build together.
The value of this community read extended beyond the pages of a book. It was an opportunity to create space for meaningful conversations, broaden our collective understanding of housing insecurity, and recognize the experiences of individuals and families whose struggles may not always be visible.
Housing instability does not exist in isolation. Its effects can be felt in our classrooms, healthcare facilities, workplaces, and neighborhoods. Recognizing these connections allows us to approach housing challenges with greater empathy, awareness, and an understanding that access to stable housing strengthens the health and resilience of our entire community.
Ultimately, the value of this community read was not only in the information shared, but in the understanding it fostered. Meaningful community change begins when we look beyond statistics and recognize the people, families, and stories behind them. By creating opportunities to listen, learn, and engage with one another, initiatives like this remind us that addressing housing insecurity is not simply about creating more places to live. It is about strengthening the foundation of a community where individuals and families have the opportunity to experience stability, dignity, and a sense of belonging.
CHA is extremely grateful for great partners who helped bring this event to fruition and the wonderful community members who participated. Thank you!
Up Next for NestQuest: The Salida Moth
On October 23 and 24th, the Salida Moth at A Church in Salida where community members will share stories on the theme of Shelter & Place: Seeking, Finding or Losing Home. Use the hyperlink to buy tickets.
Marjo Curgus, CHA Executive Director, at the community read of Evicted.
Chaffee Gives Kicks Off Early Giving November 1st - Give Early
For Chaffee Gives 2026, please support our work supporting housing stability in Chaffee County. With your support our programming continues to grow to meet increasing need. Molly House opened its doors in March 2026 offering vital bridge housing and trauma-informed support for local families with children; seniors; and domestic violence victims facing housing instability due to personal and/or financial crises. Your donation helps cover emergency short-term shelter, reimburse trusted local partner organizations providing essential wrap-around services, and sustain dedicated CHA Housing Navigators who guide residents toward long-term, stable housing. Every contribution makes a direct, lasting difference for supporting our most vulnerable neighbors.
CHA’s housing stability team addresses an average 120 inquiries per month for housing.
Since 2024, the CHA and DHS Stable Families Project has successfully transitioned 33 unsheltered families to stable housing.
Since opening its doors in March, Molly House has successfully transitioned three families into stable long term housing with one family as a current resident.
Two seniors have resided at Molly House since opening its doors in March 2026 and 10 low-income seniors who received housing navigation moved into affordable subsidized housing.
Our goal this year is $10,000 to support programming. Visit our Chaffee Gives page to learn more and to make a donation: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/MollyHouse-
Homeownership Opportunities
The City of Salida Inclusionary Housing Program home sales are managed by the CHA. Sign up for our Homeownership Interest Newsletter to keep informed about opportunities by signing up at: https://www.chaffeehousingauthority.org/buyers
City of Salida Home For Sale
318 E 1st St Unit D, Salida, CO 81201
$408,000
Cute, stand-alone 850 square foot , 2 bedroom/ 2 bath home with an attached garage and potential office is for sale by owner. Learn more: https://www.chaffeehousingauthority.org/homes-for-sale
Chaffee Housing Trust Homes for Sale
The Chaffee Housing Trust homes are a great opportunity for community members who believe homeownership is out of reach. To learn more about the CHT homes and homebuying process, please contact CHT or visit the CHT website (El sitio web del CHT está disponible en español a https://www.chaffeehousing.org/casa)
For Sale In Two Rivers, Salida - 1 Home
2 bedroom/1.5 bath condos for $218,000 available to households earning equal to or less than 80% of Chaffee County Area Median Income.
For Sale in The Crossing, Buena Vista - 7 Homes
Live in Buena Vista’s newest development, The Crossing. Homes are available to households earning equal to or less than 100% of Chaffee County Area Median Income including:
1-bedroom/1 bath home for $235,000.
2-bedroom/1.5 bath for $285,000.
3-bedroom/2 bath home for $350,000.
View the flyer here.
Live in a lush meadow amongst the cottonwoods near Cottonwood Creek at Forest Creek Cabins. Homes are available to households earning equal to or less than 100% of Chaffee County Area Median Income including:
1 bedroom/1 bath for $155,000.
Two 2-bedroom/1 bath for $175,000.
A 2 bedroom/2 bath plus an office for $325,000.
Two 2 bedroom/1 bath in a duplex for $225,000 each.
View the flyer here.
To learn more about CHT homeownership qualifications and to apply, visit the CHT website for more information.
Available For Rent
CHA has new rental communities soon to be available as well as some vacancies. If you are looking for a rental and do not see anything in your price range, please reach out to us directly at info@chaffeehousingauthority.org
See our rental listing here.
View income qualifications here.
New Apartments Available Soon!
Crossing Apt. Buena Vista Pre-Leasing
The Crossing Apartments is located in a new, diverse community - The Crossing - at the northern edge of Buena Vista. Walkable to the heart of Buena Vista, the Crossing Apartments includes 33 all-electric and energy-efficient apartments featuring modern floorplans and high-end finishes. Each home has a walk-out balcony with most having unobstructed views down the Arkansas Valley. This is a diverse community with income qualifications ranging across tiers from 30% - 100% AMI.
Applications started being accepted October 15th to join the waitlist with move-in dates targeted for January 2027. To learn more and apply visit our website: The Crossing Apartments
Valley View Apartments, Salida - $1,400
Six brand new, 650 square foot energy efficient 1-bedroom apartments for income eligible at 80% AMI. Ground floors are ADA accessible with individual patios while the second floor walk up units have a balcony. Dishwasher and washer/dryer in unit. Rent is anticipated to be $1,400/month with the tenant paying electricity and internet. Contact david@chaffeehousingauthority.org to get on the wait list. Move in expected mid-November. Apply on our website.
Co-Living At Jane’s Place
CHA is renting 3 rooms for individuals income qualified at 70% AMI at The Lodge, a 5-bedroom/2-bath co-living apartment fully furnished with a modern aesthetic. Each single bedroom has a closet, single bed frame and new mattress, a side table and lamp, and a comfortable sitting chair. The shared living room and kitchen are in an open concept with large windows and view of the mountains. The apartment is a second floor walk up with a balcony. Rooms are $750 inclusive of all utilities and internet. A laundry facility is available on site. Move in mid-November. Contact david@chaffeehousingauthority.org for more information. Apply on our website.
CHA In Action
Daniel Flanders, CHA Housing Case Manager, at the Statewide Homeless Convening sharing Molly House as an example of rural ingenuity in addressing housing stability.
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