A Strong Foundation
Chaffee Housing
2007: Incorporated as Chaffee County Community Land Trust, later changed to Chaffee Housing Trust.
2008: Community Board formed, contract director hired, Bylaws developed and approved, successful 501(c)(3) status with IRS, client intake services established.
2009: Full-time Executive Director hired, Community Housing Development
Organization (CHDO) status attained, first project planned with pre-development and financing, grant funds pursued from foundations and Div. of Housing.
2010: Local fundraising increased, Crestone Heights project ready, seeking buyers.
A Resilent Rebound
2011: Great recession freezes financing, project halted, organization goes dormant.
2016 : CHT revitalized, Board re-formed, public engagement re-ignited, volunteer staff.
2017: E.D. re-hired part-time, client intake renewed, CHDO status re-established. CHT plays active role in local Housing Policy Advisory Committee (HPAC).
A Vision Made Real
2018: Land donated, Old Stage Road Rowhouses (OSRR) at Two Rivers construction begins with local financing, project grants.
2018: Buyers with mortgages approved, under contract, outreach, and engagement expanded into Lake County / Leadville.
2019: OSRR completed, 6 units sold, 2 rented to low-income households!
2019: Mortgage products established with USDA and local High Country Bank. Colorado Health Foundation provides Program-Related Investment (PRI) funds and grants. First CHT buyer in The Farm at Buena Vista closes. CHT continues to build organizational capacity. First homeowners join the Board of Directors.
2020: Lot in River Ridge in Salida purchased, pre-development completed, client services ramp up with hiring of full-time bilingual Homeownership Program Manager. Intern hired.
2020: Two AmeriCorps VISTA’s hired, contract accounting and bookkeeping staff engaged, 3 new homes in The Farm added to the portfolio. Salida City-owned M&3rd land donated.
2021: Part-time Project Manager hired, River Ridge underway (8 homes), M&3rd planning continues, other project opportunities come to CHT indicating future growth potential.
2022: River Ridge completed & sold out, M&3rd under construction, first project in Leadville - 12 new homes in the Railyard, Promotora hired, new position open.
To date: 21 homeowners, 2 rentals. Coming soon: 24 new homes in 3 new projects