Montrose doesn’t make the grade

It has been clear for quite some time that affordable housing and Montrose County rarely belong in the same sentence.

And a recent report from Colorado College titled, “Affordable housing in the Rockies: Housing a region in transition,” only goes to reaffirm the need for affordable housing in the area.

Montrose, along with Ouray and Gunnison counties, all received D and D+ marks, according to the report. This is no surprise.

The problem is, with more and more minimum wage-plus retail and food industry jobs coming to the area with the construction of Target, JC Penney’s, Sports Authority, Applebee’s and others, plus those already in existence, the need for affordable housing has become greater.

Montrose County Housing Director Tim Heavers said the median income in Montrose was around $43,217 or roughly someone making $20.77 per hour. If this is the income needed to live in the area, then the report’s finding that nearly three minimum-wage incomes ($7.02 per hour) are needed to afford a fair market rent, is an eye opener.

Given the state of the economy and the housing industry, the lack of affordable, quality housing becomes an issue that should be near the top of Montrose’s concerns.

Sunshine Peak Apartments off San Juan Avenue featuring 49 one-to-three bedroom units, is at 100 percent occupancy and has made just a small ripple in addressing a clear need in the area.

Heavers said the housing authority has applied for Community Development Block Grants for the addition of 43 more units to the apartment complex.

It will be interesting to see what the Montrose County Commissioners and Montrose City Council, especially with newly elected members, will do to help address this issue. And it won’t be an easy task. The available funds from the state have gone down and the limited funds that do exist, are likely to go to higher population areas in Front Range counties, who also received D and D+ grades.

It will likely leave Western Slope counties fighting for funds and doing some creative thinking to provide affordable housing in the area.