I had the pleasure of sitting down, yesterday, with interim Archuleta School District Superintendent Laura Mijares, to chat about the community’s housing crisis.
I had requested the meeting — just a casual meeting, to toss some ideas around — after I’d attended a special work session of the Archuleta Board of Education, convened on February 8, where this very same issue was discussed.
The lack of workforce housing in Archuleta County. A problem for schools, hospitals, businesses, workers.
I consider these face-to-face meetings with community leaders to be part of my role as president of Pagosa Housing Partners, one of our local non-profit housing organizations… and I was delighted that Ms. Milares was able to make time for a chat.
Of course, I realize Ms. Milares has many other issues to deal with, in her current role. Finding bus drivers, for one. Finding substitute teachers. Replacing existing teachers as they retire or move on. Ensuring that all students meet the Colorado Academic Standards. Addressing behavioral health, and misbehavior. Managing building security. Keeping enrollment up. Dealing with parent complaints.
And now, perhaps, the development of workforce housing policies and projects? A housing crisis has not traditionally been on the School Superintendent’s plate. But the problem seems to be on most everyone’s plate, recently.
Clearly, the Board of Education now sees the housing crisis as something worthy of their attention — maybe even worthy of their tax-derived funding. This might sound strange to the general public — a school district getting itself involved in housing issues? Isn’t this outside the wheelhouse of an educational institution?
The priorities inside the wheelhouse have changed, in 2022. Our Pagosa community appears headed for desperate straits, and we might just need everyone to grab the captain’s wheel.
During the School Board’s February 8 work session, president Bob Lynch invited Greg Schulte — chair of the Pagosa Springs Medical Center (PSMC) Board of Directors — to address the room. We also might think that houisng policies and projects are outside the wheelhouse of a community hospital. But like I said, this appears to be an ‘all hands on deck’ situation.
Mr. Schulte:
“I primarily wanted to come down and offer encouragement and moral support. Because, as [School Board member Dan Guinn] and I talked about it, it’s no secret. PSMC is the largest employer in the county, and workforce housing, as a general term, is a huge problem for us.”
“And as Dana mentioned, we did pass a resolution a few months back, stating that we believe it’s a crisis for our community. It’s really a problem for us.
“So, in our resolution, we stated that it’s a multi-faceted problem that will require a multi-faceted approach. I’m hoping that we can partner?”
Earlier in the work session, School Board member Butch Mackey had shared information about what other school districts are attempting, to address the lack of workforce housing in their communities, and had mentioned that Aspen School District had found it difficult to work with other community partners on the problem.
Mr. Schulte:
“I’m sorry to hear that partnering didn’t work in Aspen. But what I’m hoping is that it can work here. And we stated in our resolution that we want to partner, whatever that looks like. I’m not sure what that looks like, but we’re definitely open.
“Myself and our vice chair Matt Mees — some of you know him — we have been looking at a lot of different housing options. We’ve talked to the Town, we’ve talked to Habitat for Humanity, and we have actually looked at units for sale.
“Our research also is showing that it’s those health systems that actually control housing units… is what makes it easier for them.
“So, I’m not saying this on behalf of the Board — this is my own personal belief — but it’s my belief that this community really has reached a point of no return in some regards, and that, if we want to have housing for workforce, it’s probably going to — I believe — it going to come from controlling our own units. And we’re seeing that with healthcare systems as well. Hospitals, like in Aspen, are now getting into the housing business.
“It’s a sobering moment, and it’s not something that I ever thought we would do, but I believe we’re almost delaying the inevitable. We’re not going back, and we have a small building envelope here. It’s expensive; it’s getting more expensive. I just think we’re not going back.”
Mr. Schulte then mentioned the upcoming election of board members for the Upper San Juan Health Services District, the tax-supported government entity responsible for the Pagosa Springs Medical Center.
“So we’re going to have a new board, and I’m sure it won’t be lost on them, that housing is a big issue. So I have every belief that they will be ready, willing and able to step forward. I want to encourage you to keep the lines of communication open, and thank you for letting me come down here and say my two cents…”
Many taxpayers and voters in Archuleta County lean toward the ‘fiscally conservative’ side of the political spectrum, believing that smaller government is better government, and that allowing the ‘free market’ to be truly free is the surest path to a prosperous country, and a prosperous local community.
Some of those folks might view the suggestion, that our tax-supported hospital and our tax-supported school district should be building and owning employee housing, as symptoms of a continuing and dangerous descent into Socialism.
I would point out, for the sake of argument, that the real estate market in Pagosa Springs has been one of the most ‘free’ of all our local markets. The freedom to freely market and sell private property to whomever has the most money is a cherished American value, and has been freely guiding the ownership patterns in Archuleta County — ownership of homes, ownership of commercial properties, ownership of agricultural properties.
The result is a community where 40% of our homes sit vacant for 9 months of the year, or are rented out to tourists who have little investment in Pagosa’s long-term well-being.
While many working families are burdened with outrageous rents or home prices, if they can even find a decent place to live.
Is it possible… that our local governments can help turn things around?