The primary role of the Fraser River Valley Housing Partnership is to facilitate the development of workforce housing units within our boundaries. The most recent housing needs assessment conducted by the Partnership shows a more than 700-unit gap in affordable rental and homeownership opportunities in the Fraser River Valley. Additionally, The Mountain Migration Study revealed that home prices in mountain communities continue to reach record heights, with rents increasing 20-40% within one year. Our goal is to address the need for affordable housing in the community by:
Seeing the current pipeline of government funded community housing development projects through to completion
Partnering with the public and private sector to help close the capital stack on potential future projects via the tools at our disposal
Creating a balanced for-sale market for locally employed households through deed restrictions
Creating a functional rental market below 120% AMI across a range of products
Land banking appropriate parcels
Preserving existing inventory
The 2022 Housing Needs Assessment shows a need for more than 700 rental and homeownership properties in Grand County. An updated needs assessment is being conducted in 2026.
History of the Fraser River Valley Housing Partnership
Discussion of forming a regional housing authority began in September of 2021 following a joint meeting between the Towns of Fraser and Winter Park. The Town of Granby and Grand County joined the working group shortly thereafter and a draft Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) was presented to all the participating governments at a joint meeting on March 14, 2022.
Following approval of the IGA, the group proceeded with appointing the board of the new housing partnership, with the board being fully formed in early August of 2022. The board consists of seven members, with four being appointed by the participating governments, and three appointed as at-large members.
In 2022 a ballot measure (Ballot Measure 6A) was presented and approved by voters. 6A allows for the collection of a 2 mill property tax to fund the Partnership efforts to support workforce housing. The mill levy was collected for the first time in 2023 and the funds have already allowed for significant contributions towards workforce housing projects in the years that have followed.