Regional Housing Needs Assessment preliminary data to be shared at February 10 Intergovernmental Worksession
The San Miguel Regional Housing Authority (SMRHA), along with the Towns of Mountain Village and Telluride and San Miguel County, will receive preliminary data for the updated Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA) at the upcoming Intergovernmental Meeting on February 10.
Led by SMRHA and conducted by Denver-based consulting firm EPS, this assessment will ultimately update the region's previous 2018 RHNA and guide local leaders in addressing affordable housing needs throughout San Miguel County.
EPS has been working with SMRHA and government staff over the last year to gather and analyze the data needed to update the assessment.
A community survey was distributed in summer 2024 to county residents, those who commute to the region for work and the local business community to gather data to better understand the need for housing across San Miguel County.
EPS has also been gathering multiple data sources for the assessment including: current census data, regional salary and wage information and analysis of the county’s existing housing inventory.
Deputy County Manager Jarrod Biggs explained, “With changes in staffing at SMRHA before the holidays, our intergovernmental team has been engaging with EPS to finalize information and develop a presentation of survey results. We are as excited to push this to the finish line, and use this information to better direct our individual and collective efforts in the arena of housing needs.”
While a draft was initially expected in the fall of 2024, EPS was delayed due to an influx of requests from other communities seeking updated assessments due to recent Colorado state law.
“EPS has found themselves inundated with communities seeking data to inform their respective housing challenges, specifically because Proposition 123 funds now require communities to have their own assessment before applying for funding,” said Mountain Village Assistant Town Manager Michelle Bulson (Haynes).
The preliminary data will be presented at the next Intergovernmental Meeting scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, February 10 at 1:30 p.m. The meeting will be hosted by the Town of Mountain Village in Town Hall both an in-person and option to tune in virtually. Packet material will be distributed the week prior.
A final draft of the RHNA is expected to be complete by early March and will be shared through government and community channels when it is available.
