How Ski Towns are Tackling the Housing Crisis

Mountain towns across the West are taking a wide array of approaches to their growing housing crisis as lower-income residents find it increasingly difficult to access affordable housing.

According to an article by Nick Bowlin in High Country News, a new report reveals just how varied these approaches are. As Bowlin explains, “The report was produced by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG), a voluntary association of 30 local governments, including some of the state’s most iconic — and expensive — ski areas.”

The report summarizes the state of housing in over 40 local jurisdictions, mostly in Colorado. Key findings include the need for local governments to get involved, noting that “public entities need to play an active role in the housing market” to keep housing affordable for workers and other residents. The report also highlights creative ways governments are working to create and keep affordable housing, such as building housing on federal land and preserving mobile home parks and protecting their residents from evictions and rent spikes.