Housing costs are rising across the state, but Grand Junction, Montrose, and statewide leaders are responding with new incentives, faster permitting, and community-focused housing solutions.
Housing affordability is one of the most urgent issues facing Western Colorado. Families across the region are experiencing rising rents, limited home inventory, construction delays, and higher purchase prices. These pressures affect nearly every part of daily life and are contributing to workforce shortages in critical fields such as healthcare, education, public safety, and skilled trades.
In a recent interview with Colorado Newsline, Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser outlined a statewide housing plan. His proposal calls for 40,000 new attainable owner-occupied homes and lower housing costs for 100,000 renters by 2035. Weiser highlighted the need for faster permitting, better coordination among agencies, and stronger renter protections. He emphasized that many essential workers can no longer afford to live where they work.
Communities across the Western Slope are responding with a range of local strategies that are gaining statewide attention.
Grand Junction has become a regional leader in local housing policy. In August 2025, the City Council expanded the Affordable and Attainable Housing Incentive Program through Resolution 45-25. This program encourages developers to build below-market units by offering financial support and requiring long-term deed restrictions that maintain affordability over time.
One of the most significant initiatives is the Salt Flats development, a large 21-acre project focused on families earning below 100 percent of the Area Median Income. The city extended land leases to improve financing options, removed several development barriers, and ensured lasting affordability through deed restrictions. Salt Flats is expected to create new pathways to homeownership in a market where starter homes are increasingly scarce.
Grand Junction has also adopted expedited permitting to speed up affordable housing projects. In March and October 2025, the city advanced several recommendations from its 13-point Housing Strategy, prioritizing quicker review timelines for developments that serve low and middle income households.
Montrose is tackling the affordability crisis through a variety of new programs that support seniors, working families, and first-time homebuyers.
In September, Montrose celebrated the grand opening of Rendezvous, a 52-unit affordable senior housing development for adults age 55 and older who earn between 30 and 60 percent of local median income. The project is a partnership between Volunteers of America National Services and the City of Montrose, and it uses state and federal funding sources to create modern and energy-efficient homes for older adults.
Montrose has also earned recognition for its Expedited Review Program, which received a grant extension in 2025. This support allows the city to continue improving the approval process for affordable housing projects through 2026.
In August 2025, the city launched a Pre-Approved Accessory Dwelling Unit Program. This program provides homeowners with pre-approved plans and simplified permitting to build ADUs more easily. These units help expand the housing supply, create rental opportunities, and increase property value while maintaining neighborhood character.
Habitat for Humanity of the San Juans is also expanding its work. A new triplex is scheduled to begin construction in early 2026 on land donated by the Montrose County Housing Authority. These homes will offer affordable ownership opportunities for local families.
The Western Slope is part of a larger statewide effort to close the housing gap. The Affordable Housing NOW Campaign and Region 10’s Mind the Gap Study show that the region needs significant increases in both rental and ownership units to support current and future workforce growth.
In 2025, workforce data from the Grand Junction metro area indicated that housing pressures were limiting growth despite increasing job opportunities.
Governor Jared Polis traveled to Montrose and Grand Junction in 2025 to highlight the need for regional collaboration. His administration has supported policies that expand modular housing, encourage more ADUs, allow additional density near transit, and reduce legal risks for new construction.
In May 2025, Colorado awarded 48 million dollars to local governments across the state, including several on the Western Slope, to fund new affordable units and related infrastructure.
These initiatives align with Weiser’s proposed plan, which includes:
Momentum is building at all levels of government.
Housing affordability remains one of the most significant long-term challenges for the Western Slope, and it affects community stability, economic development, and regional equity.
Grand Junction’s incentive programs, the Salt Flats development, Montrose’s ADU and senior housing initiatives, statewide land-use reforms, and new funding partnerships all demonstrate a shared commitment to increasing affordable and attainable homes.
From Denver policy rooms to county and city councils in Mesa and Montrose counties, there is a growing recognition that Colorado must act quickly and collaboratively. Across the Western Slope, new solutions are emerging, and communities are working to ensure that residents can live, work, and thrive in the places they call home.
