Community Partners

Addressing the housing crisis is a complex challenge that cannot be solved by a single agency or policy alone. The Office of Housing Stability recognizes that effective solutions require collaboration and the collective effort of various stakeholders, including government entities, non-profits, community organizations, and community members. By prioritizing partnerships and fostering diverse stakeholder engagement, we aim to develop comprehensive strategies that respond to the growing need for affordable housing. Together, we can create innovative and sustainable solutions that meet the immediate demands of our community and promote long-term housing stability for all of our community members.

Larimer County Housing Strategy Statement: Larimer County recognizes the growing need for affordable, quality housing available to all its residents. The County identifies the region’s top housing needs to be 1.) additional units, 2.) starter homes for middle-income earners, 3.) increase of diverse housing options, 4.) expansion of housing resources for older adults, mobile home park residents, unhoused individuals and families, and people with disabilities. Our office addresses these priorities through regional coordination, land use code reform, and funding to expand housing resources across Larimer County.
 

Regional Coordination:

  • Northern Colorado Continuum of Care
  • Larimer County Strategic Plan committees working to coordinate regionally on land use issues to encourage affordable, attainable housing near transportation & jobs.
  • Collaboration with our Housing Authorities (Housing Catalyst, Loveland Housing Authority, Estes Park Housing Authority)
  • Participating in the Larimer Regional Plan to Address Homelessness (lead by Homeward Alliance, in partnership with the City of Fort Collins, the City of Loveland, the Town of Estes Park, United Way of Larimer County, and the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care)
     

Land Use Code Reform:

  • Conducted a Land Use Code Audit – from an affordable housing perspective
  • Working to improve and expand our code definition of Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs)
  • Currently conducting community engagement to create a Mobile Home Park Preservation Zone – which would protect parks from being bought & redeveloped to displace the current residents.
  • Conduct outreach and education events at our Mobile Home Parks about code compliance and permitting processes and translate key documents in those departments into Spanish to improve accessibility.
  • Researching the feasibility and practicality of adding Cottage Clusters as a possibility in our rural zones.
     

Expansion of Housing Resources:

  • Funding Neighbor to Neighbor to sustain Emergency Rent Assistance Program – helping Larimer residents avoid eviction.
  • Funding the Colorado Poverty Law Project to expand its work throughout the County. The project provides free legal representation and education to people at risk of eviction or experiencing issues with the CO habitability standard. It also provides Know Your Rights Training and assists many mobile home residents with knowing their rights and filing complaints with the State.
  • Funding the Northern Colorado Continuum of Care with a flex fund to help the most vulnerable in our County get and remain housed faster.
  • Funding to Larimer Home Improvement Program. Providing Emergency Grants and low-interest loans to low-income homeowners throughout the County.
  • Funding of the HomeShare program. This program focuses on helping older adult homeowners earn extra income or help with household chores in exchange for an affordable room to rent in their homes. It improves the quality of life for the older adult homeowner and the new renter.
  • Landlord Engagement – The goal of this program is to create new affordable rental units without building new units. We provide support and incentives to local landlords while working with our local housing advocates to house community members struggling to find stable housing.

Submission Form Coming Soon. 

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the distressing lack of affordable housing in the US. Across the country, individuals and families struggled to remain in their homes. On March 11, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was a federal law passed by Congress. It was intended to help the country recover from the economic and health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The act provided $1.9 trillion in relief funds. Larimer County received $69 Million and worked with community stakeholders to identify ready-to-go transformational projects to support with these funds. 

  
Larimer County and its Board of County Commissioners are committed to addressing our community's growing need for more affordable housing. 
 

Below are the housing projects that received Larimer County ARPA dollars.


Medical Care for People Experiencing Homelessness - Murphy Center Renovations


Homeward Alliance is one of the region's leading agencies in providing homelessness services across the County. They currently operate the Murphy Center, located at 242 Conifer Steet in Fort Collins. The Murphy Center is a resource hub and day center for community members who are unhoused and looking for guidance. It serves over 2,500 guests annually.  


The Board of County Commissioners learned that there is a significant gap in accessing primary medical care for people experiencing homelessness in Larimer County. There were only two community clinics providing care to people experiencing homelessness, and they reported consistently operating beyond their capacity and had waitlists of over 700 individuals. To address this need, Larimer County invested in renovating the Murphy Center to build an on site clinic that would bring medical care to unhoused guests already accessing daily services in the building. '


The clinic is now open, and you can learn more here: Click Here.


The Matthews House: The Landing Youth Shelter


Regional partners in Northern Colorado, led by The Matthews House, are building a drop-in day center and overnight shelter called The Landing in Loveland, CO. 
The Landing is the only shelter in Northern Colorado exclusively serving youth—anyone 15-20 years old. Alongside its partner day shelter, The House in Fort Collins, youth can access services such as resource navigation, physical and mental health care support, housing services, a food pantry, and many others. Ultimately, the goal is to help youths regain stable housing. 


This shelter is an example of regional collaboration dedicated to helping the most vulnerable people in our communities. Thompson School District donated the land and building, giving the project its launching point. Larimer County was proud to grant $1.5 million to The Matthews House to fund operating costs for the first two years of operation. Poudre School District, Thompson Education Foundation, the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, and other non-profits are also key partners. 
The Landing Youth Shelter will open its doors in the winter of 2024. It will be ready to be an inclusive and safe space for all genders, identities, races, ethnicities, religions, and sexual orientations.


To learn more about The Landing, The House, and other services offered by The Matthews House, visit their website by Clicking Here


Estes Park Housing Authority and Town of Estes Park: Fish Hatchery Workforce Housing


Estes Park is a beautiful community that thrives on the mountain lifestyle and outdoor adventures. It is the gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park, one of the most famous national parks. Estes Park welcomes tourists year-round, whether they are hiking, skiing, or staying at the Stanley Hotel. 
It also lacks sufficient housing for those who work in Estes Park to live in Estes Park. 


The Town Board of Estes Park has set aside 22 acres of town-owned property to construct housing available to local workers for rent. Estes Park Housing Authority has formally contracted with the Town to be the lead developer of the Fish Hatchery site. The site's plan is to construct 190 units, with rents that will be affordable for the local workforce.  
At this point, the development is in its earliest stage. In Phase One, there are studies and assessments to conduct, community outreach to do, and necessary predevelopment work to complete. Larimer County’s grant of $2 million has been allocated to fund this first phase of the development project. In future phases, the Town Board of Estes Park will use revenue from the 6E Lodging Tax for funding. Estes Park Housing Authority also plans to pursue Low-Income Housing Tax Credits.  
Estes Park Housing Authority is targeting to begin construction in 2025.


To learn more about and see updates on the Fish Hatchery Workforce Housing site project, Click Here

Private Activity Bonds

Private Activity Bonds are used to leverage funding programs for the development of Affordable Housing or other projects approved under IRS sections 141-150. Applicants for the County's Private Activity Bond allocation may be:

  1. a qualified issuer (the state, local governments, or a housing authority) on behalf of its own projects; or
  2. a private sector entity (such as a developer) who has partnered with a qualified issuer.

Applications for the County's 2024 allocation, totaling $6,518,363, were due by MARCH 1st.


The application shall take the form of a letter signed by the applicant containing all of the information listed here: (PAB Application)

  1. Applicant contact information
  2. Contact Information for the issuer, if other than the applicant
  3. Type of project and location (drawings and maps are helpful)
  4. Type and number of individuals who will be served by the project
  5. Amount of allocation requested
  6. Applicant experience with similar projects
  7. Current stage of the project and estimated date of groundbreaking
  8. Resources being leveraged to develop and support the project
  9. Extent of collaboration with public and private sector partners
  10. Completed or anticipated review of the project by the public in surrounding areas and neighborhoods
  11. Any additional information needed by the County to evaluate the project against the criteria in the County's policy.
     

The County's Private Activity Bond Allocation Policy, including the County's evaluation criteria, may be found here:  Private Activity Bond (PAB) Allocation-320.12A

For more information regarding the County's Private Activity Bond Allocation or to apply for the allocation, contact Alea Rodriguez, Larimer County Housing Stability Program Manager, at rodrigal@co.larimer.co.us or (970) 498-7148.