MINERAL COUNTY — Dawn Melgares, San Luis Valley Housing Coalition executive director, and Andrew Atchley, with the Department of Local Affairs Housing Division, met with Mineral County Commissioners for a public question-and-answer meeting on Monday, April 4. 

It was recently announced by the SLV Housing Coalition that Mineral County would help with a grant that would aid in costs associated with the purchase of property in Creede that would be later used to create affordable housing in the area.

Mineral County Commissioners and the general public on Monday asked several questions about the proposed project and grant process, including how long it would take to finalize rentable housing in Creede.

Melgares began by explaining that the SLV Housing Coalition was working together with the Department of Local Affairs on a Community Development Block Grant that would be used to obtain property located south of Creede near Hargraves Park. The land has two vacant lots that would be used to build rentable housing and an existing building that will be used for the same.

The total cost of the purchase will come close to $700,000 with $400,000 being filtered through the county which would serve as a fiscal agent for the Community Development Block Grant. The remaining $300,000 will come through the SLV Housing Coalition which has already started the process of applying for low-interest loans to make up the difference. 

Atchley stated that from start to finish, once the grant application is submitted at the beginning of May, the housing coalition should be able to close on the property as soon as September.

Melgares stated that once the property was purchased by the housing coalition, they would seek further funding to start construction of the housing itself. Melgares stated that some funding through a Colorado Housing and Finance Grant was already in the works.

Though it is a time-consuming project, it is a step in the right direction for Creede and Mineral County. Like many communities throughout the San Luis Valley, Mineral County and Creede proper are struggling with the lack of affordable housing that is needed to strengthen their workforce and the local economy.

The new housing property would have income-based rentals that will include single and family units. Melgares stated that the housing authority is hoping to have the project complete and units ready for rent in about 12 to 24 months depending on several factors including supply demands and weather. The price of rent would be based on the Annual Medial Income in Mineral County which was determined to be about $40,000.

In addition to the affordable housing project, the housing coalition has also completed its housing survey on the San Luis Valley and will be working with local officials to present the findings in the coming weeks. The City of Creede is also part of the conversation and will be working with the housing coalition to help with this project or future projects as time and resources allow. It was also stated that the housing coalition will be paying property tax on the units once they are finished and rentable.