Since 1999, Habitat for Humanity of Grand County has spearheaded the creation of affordable housing. Over a dozen homeowners have worked alongside Habitat Grand County volunteers to construct their own homes. In January, the organization received the most ambitious grant in its history.

According to a news release, Habitat received $1.6 million from the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority and the state Office of Economic Development and International Trade. This generous forgivable loan will allow the nonprofit to build an estimated 20 affordable housing units on a 2.68-acre property in Granby. The housing project is currently called Project Morris, since it is located on Morris Drive.

Lisa Cooper, Habitat of Grand County’s executive director, was instrumental in the application effort. Habitat was among 113 entities that filed letters of intent to apply. Each entity sought funding to acquire or preserve land for affordable rental and homeownership units.

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“What an amazing opportunity to serve our community,” Cooper said in the news release. “We have the honor to provide affordable housing with this land purchase in an area that we would not normally be able to afford. This grant is the largest one our affiliate has ever received, and this opportunity will help us meet the extraordinary need for affordable housing in our county.”

Only 26 of those 113 entities were invited to apply, and 21 did. Habitat Grand County is one of only 16 applicants that will receive funding. In total, the 16 applicants will receive an estimated $25 million through the Affordable Housing Financing Fund’s Land Banking program.

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Habitat Grand County was awarded a contract to buy the Granby property, contingent on its receiving this award. Habitat and the other selected applicants were awarded based on the following criteria: readiness to proceed, development plan status, financial feasibility, geographic distribution, amount request and total number of units proposed.

Project Morris is Habitat’s first multifamily housing initiative. The organization has already created 14 single-family homes in Hot Sulphur Springs, all to provide Grand County residents who have invested sweat equity in the construction of the Habitat homes. Habitat also hopes to break ground on two single-family homes in Hot Sulphur Springs in spring and summer 2024.

“The Board and our volunteers are excited to have this opportunity to provide affordable ownership options for Grand County residents,” Sallie Arnold, Habitat board president, stated in the news release. “The cost of real estate in Grand County has been rising quickly in recent years, and this grant gives Habitat an opportunity to provide affordable options.”

Arnold is also the CEO of the Grand County Association of Realtors. She added that once Habitat completes the purchase on Morris Drive, the organization will finalize a timeline for breaking ground on the multifamily units.

“We’ll use this time to recruit volunteers, connect with other community stakeholders, and prepare to bring this project to reality for our community,” she stated.

About the Affordable Housing Financing Fund

The financing fund and its Land Banking program were created under Proposition 123, which was passed by Colorado voters in November 2022. Colorado Housing and Finance Authority is the program administrator for the Prop 123 fund.

“High demand for the Land Banking funds underscores the great need for affordable housing in communities across the state,” stated Cris White, executive director and CEO of Colorado Housing and Finance Authority, in a news release. “These sixteen awardees represent a geographically diverse mix of nonprofits and local governments working hard to produce more affordable housing for Coloradans.” 

The proposition’s prime sponsors were state representatives Julie McCluskie and Lisa Frizell and state senators Tony Exum and Dylan Roberts.

“We all know that affordable housing is a top challenge in our rural and mountain communities, and Habitat Grand County is working hard to give our local workforce access to affordable home ownership opportunities and they deserve this support,” Roberts stated. “At the legislature, we’ve worked hard to ensure Proposition 123 funds are available to every community in our state and look forward to more of these awards coming to the Western Slope soon.” 

As part of the award commitment, selected applicants, where applicable, will build projects in accordance with an environmental sustainability standard. These standards require the proposed project to achieve sustainable certifications, such as being all-electric.

To learn more about Habitat for Humanity’s mission, volunteer or donate, visit HabitatGrandCounty.org.