High-Level Overview
The Grand County Housing Assistance Fund is a Designated Fund of the Grand Foundation designed to align with county goals to address the critical housing shortages, diversify employment and economic revenue sources and essentially improve the community’s infrastructure by providing housing assistance to eligible applicants.
Unlike the Winter Park Housing Fund whose parameters primarily focus on those living and working in the town of Winter Park, those eligible for GCHAF include fulltime Grand County residence including anyone part of the Grand County workforce retirees, families and anyone part of the Grand County workforce (working 32 hours a week or 1600 hours a year).
Funds go towards rental assistance, move-in assistance (i.e. first or last month’s rent), and or down payment assistance for home purchases. For rental assistance, there are application deadlines. Because home purchases are more sporadic funding requests are a little more flexible.
Official Grant Guidelines from the Grand Foundation Page – https://www.grandfoundation.com/Grants/Grand-County-Housing-Assistance-Fund
Grant Guidelines
Funding for applicants will be prioritized upon economic need. This Fund supports full-time residents only. Funding will be considered to include but not limited to, members of the Grand County workforce, former members of the Grand County workforce (retired) and Grand County families. As defined by the Grand County Housing Authority. An applicant is considered to be a member of the Grand County workforce if they work 32 hours a week or 1600 hours a year in a job located within boundaries of Grand County. New residents will be considered for assistance if they have employer sponsorship in writing. If there are any questions about whether a job is qualified, please contact Megan Ledin at megan@grandfoundation.com.
Individuals should be applying for assistance in the form of rental assistance, move-in assistance (i.e. first or last month’s rent), and or down payment assistance for home purchases.
If applying for Down Payment Assistance, the applicant MUST work with the Grand County Housing Authority prior to submitting an application to fund. This includes but is not limited to applying for GCHA Down Payment Assistance Loan and attending First Time Homebuyer’s Class.
This Fund will be used specifically for housing assistance by providing applicants with direct payments to their housing providers.
This Donor Advised Fund of the Grand Foundation will not participate in any political campaign on behalf of any issues or candidates.
If an individual receives duplicate funding for a request, the Housing Assistance Fund monies awarded must be returned.
Distribution of funds will be made to the housing providers as the funds are needed and requested. Special circumstances may apply.
Requests not following the Application Requirements and Fund Guidelines will not be considered for funding. Incomplete applications will not be accepted.
Requests for prior monies due for housing assistance will not be considered for funding (i.e. back rent).
An advisory committee will make funding decisions based on economic need and upon completion of committee meetings all applicants will be notified of funding decisions. Please realize that it takes several days to reach all individuals.
All funding decisions by the committee are to be considered final. Any changes to approved grant requests must be discussed and reviewed with the committee prior to any use of granted funds.
Applicants can only apply once annually.
The application must be submitted according to the instructions on the application form. Questions should be directed to Megan Ledin, at 970-887-3111 ext 3 or megan@grandfoundation.com or Sheena Darland, Operations Manager, Grand County Housing Authority at 970-725-3071 or sdarland@co.grand.co.us
Tracy Navarrete
