I started this editorial series two weeks ago, with a story about Archuleta Housing Corporation and their effort to preserve and maintain the oldest low-income housing complexes in Pagosa Springs. Or shall we call the, the “most mature”?
Three of the four apartment complexes managed by this 501c3 non-profit are celebrating 50 years of operation, serving Pagosa Springs families and individuals through the HUD Section 8 program.
The corporation was founded in 1971 by a volunteer board of directors, all members of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church here in Pagosa. As far as I can tell, the intention of the founding board was never aimed at making a profit for the organization. Instead, the founders recognized the need for safe, affordable dwellings for members of the community who might otherwise find themselves living in unsafe, overcrowded, or over-priced housing.
Fifty years later, the situation has not improved for our low-income families and individuals. If anything, the situation has gotten worse.
For all the efforts of our community leaders to direct the Pagosa community in the direction of prosperity and economic security, the situation has gotten worse, for many people. Those years of effort were, in my humble opinion, fashioned upon the general belief that the quest for material wealth — the quest for profit, investment gain, bigger bank accounts — would create a better living situation for everyone in the community.
Time to change direction? Time to change our general beliefs?
We are running an article this morning, written by local volunteer Joanne Whitney, a member of the Pagosa Housing Partners board, announcing a garage sale this weekend in Holiday Acres. The sale will take place at the home of local realtor Shellie Hogue. Both Shellie and Joanne have been working with Pagosa Housing Partners since its inception three years ago, and were integral to the development of the “Roadmap to Affordable Housing” report adopted by the Town of Pagosa Springs in 2019. Guidance for that report was provided by PHP Executive Director Lynne Vickerstaff, who has since moved away.
This morning, I am thinking about the word, “workers”.
Many people have moved away, from Archuleta County, over the past three years, and many new residents have arrived. We live in a community in flux. The changing conditions have made it harder and harder for employers to find workers — especially trained, committed workers. COVID has also made it harder to find workers.
I am reminded of a passage in the Book of Matthew:
Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Jesus was of course referring, here, to a evangelical effort to spread certain religious teachings — teachings related to brotherhood, and loving one’s neighbor. No doubt those teachings were on the minds of the Catholic parishioners who help establish the Archuleta Housing Corporation in 1971.
But I would propose that we have no shortage of potential workers, to bring in the plentiful harvest. From what I can tell, from 17 years of research and writing for the Daily Post, nearly half of the full-time residents living in Archuleta County are “retired”. Many have retired from high-level corporate or government positions, and have impressive professional qualifications.
During the summer months, when the snowbirds arrive from Texas and Arizona and Oklahoma, I am guessing that the majority of the community consists of retirees.
Are these the workers who might be sent out into the harvest field?
I also mentioned, earlier this week, a discussion among the Town Council members, about “leadership”, and “making bold moves”, and “taking big steps to address a real problem.”
Our Town Council is currently populated mainly by volunteer individuals who are still part of the local workforce, who are still earning a living, still punching the clock. They understand and care about the plight of working families.
Here’s Council member Maddie Bergon, one of our local workers:
“I think checking in with the “Roadmap to Affordable Housing” that Pagosa Housing Partners created for us, would be an excellent step in the right direction. And then coming up with our action items. We have a path. We already have that, so let’s use it, and let’s identify action items.”
A roadmap is a fine thing, and certainly helpful. But a map merely illustrates the plentiful harvest, waiting to be brought in.
Now, we need the workers to be sent out into the field.