Press Release
APCHA invites community to forums on the future of affordable housing
Aspen, CO – The Aspen-Pitkin County Housing Authority (APCHA) invites community members to participate in two upcoming forums to help shape the future of affordable housing in Pitkin County. These forums offer a rare and valuable opportunity for residents to weigh in on APCHA’s five-year strategic plan and influence the direction of the agency that manages over 3,000 deed-restricted units.
In an unprecedented outreach effort, APCHA has already surveyed hundreds of community members to gather insights on the housing program and the agency’s performance. Now, APCHA is taking the next step by hosting these forums to collect even more public input before finalizing its strategic plan.
“We want community members to be part of the vision and part of the solution to workforce housing in Pitkin County,” said John Dougherty, principal of Human Service Innovations, the consultant leading the development of APCHA’s five-year strategic plan. “It’s crucial to have active participation and involvement from the public to chart APCHA’s next course.”
Forum details:
- Tuesday, Feb. 18, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Wednesday, Feb. 19, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
- Location: Community room, second floor, Aspen Police Department, 540 Main St.
At these forums, the public will have the opportunity to review the results of a recent community-wide survey and provide input on the initial framework of APCHA’s strategic plan. Community members, including residents, business owners, employers, and employees, are encouraged to attend and share their perspectives on the most pressing issues related to affordable housing and the future direction of APCHA.
“Even if you don’t live in APCHA housing, it is still critical that community members be involved in this process because the housing crisis affects all aspects of life here, including the local economy, traffic congestion on Highway 82, and labor shortages,” said Matthew Gillen, executive director of APCHA.
APCHA operates under a joint agreement between the city of Aspen and Pitkin County, requiring an update to the agency’s strategic plan every five years. The current plan is available for review at www.apcha.org.
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