Housing

Grand Junction is committed to enacting housing policies and partnering with outside organizations that seek to increase affordable housing options, diversify housing choice, decrease the gap between need and housing inventory, and assist those without homes to access supportive services.

Background

For at least 20 years, the City has been actively supporting housing in the community. Initially this occurred with the Grand Junction Housing Authority (GJHA) and Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWC), and then by adding partners like Grand Valley Catholic Outreach, HomewardBound of the Grand Valley, Karis, Habitat for Humanity Mesa County, and Hilltop Family Resource Center. The City also distributes its allocation of the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) from the U.S Dept of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) funds directly to the qualifying agencies, many of whom provide housing support services. The City has historically and currently prioritizes its allocation of private activity bonds (PAB) fund qualified affordable housing programs. Funds received from federal grants, including COVID, CARES, and ARPA have also funded housing partners toward meeting housing-related objectives. 

Since 2004 and through its adopted 2023 budget, the City has invested $18.1 million towards housing and houseless needs. The types of support the City has provided includes funding significant capital projects to add affordable housing units to the community, funding the operations of service providers, providing emergency support during COVID, dedicating ARPA funding to housing and homeless projects and programs, matching and securing grants for housing projects, and identifying and expanding the City’s active role in the housing space. 

Historical Support for Local Housing Partners 

Over the past several years, the City has allocated funding toward local housing partners including $4.1 million to GJHA, $2.7 million to Catholic Outreach, $1.6 million to Housing Resources, $1.1 million to HomewardBound, $355,000 to Karis Inc., and more than $1 million to other local projects in the community. The attached map identifies capital projects that the City has helped fund since 2004. The agency and the amount that went to each project is also included. Not included in the map is other funding support for operations provided to nonprofit partners such as a total of $432,000 that has been allocated to Homeward Bound in COVID and operational support since 2016, and $105,000 to Karis House toward their capital campaign, tap fees, furniture, and other operations since 2017. Funding also includes $1.2 million of ARPA funding allocated to Housing Resources for their downpayment assistance program which provides home-buying assistance to low-income households. 

Ongoing Support for Housing

The City is continuing to identify funding opportunities to address housing needs. In 2023 alone the City dedicated another $3.37 million in ARPA funding toward the Land and Building Acquisition Program, of which, $300,000 has been expended toward a Hilltop housing project. Staff will continue to evaluate project proposals for this program until funding is exhausted. Most recently, the Joseph Center project was funding through ARPA funding for $947,000 which added 20 additional beds for women over the age of 55 experiencing houselessness, 20 beds for women and children experiencing houselessness, increase their day center capacity and add showers and laundry facilities for unhoused individuals and families. There is currently $3.8 million included in the City’s Housing division budget toward achieving City Council’s 13 Housing Strategies. This includes a recently awarded DOLA grant of $2.25 million for the purchase of 15 acres for the GJHA to build up to 300 affordable housing units and $1 million specifically dedicated toward identified housing projects. Other strategies include evaluating potential funding options through state Prop 123 grants and continuing to support partner organizations through CDBG and nonprofit funding. 

Grand Valley Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy

In December 2020, the City and its partners began work with Root Policy Research, a Colorado consultancy with extensive experience in the housing field, on the Grand Valley Housing Needs Assessment (PDF). In May 2021, the Housing Needs Assessment was completed, which included data collection, a community-wide survey, and a series of focus group meetings with key stakeholders. The Assessment then informed the creation of a City of Grand Junction Housing Strategy. After multiple workshops, the City Council adopted Resolution 82-21 (PDF) on October 6, 2021, the Housing Strategy. Later, on December 21, 2022, the City adopted Resolution 96-22 (PDF), which added a thirteenth housing strategy to promote community engagement and education around housing.

The thirteen housing strategies adopted by City Council are as follows: