While his true passion is skiing, Vicente is a ‘spreader of stoke’ year-round. He’s currently spending his summer working at Wheels Bike Shop, and winter’s return will find him working at Surefoot and creating visual content for Steamboat Resort, Ikon Pass and others. “Play all morning, work hard the rest of the day – it’s the Steamboat way!”

“People are passionate about making a living surrounding the things they love in the outdoors here,” he says, “but it can be hard to balance the pursuit of those passions around the high-cost barriers to entry.” Vicente jumped at the chance to purchase his first home here at the Cottonwoods and emphasizes commonalities between himself and his new neighbors. “The other day I walked out of my front door and bumped into a neighbor, and we realized we went to CMC together,” he says. We’ve been on such different paths, but it’s awesome to find this connection today.”

“It’s the community, for me,” says Bill, summing up the main reason he has stayed in Steamboat despite the high cost of living. Over the years, Bill considered buying a home multiple times, but nothing ever came to fruition. As his rental costs continued to increase, he grew weary of the annual rate hikes and lease renewals – he craved more stability and control over his living situation. “It was a really intense process for me to work through the Cottonwoods pre-approval and lotteries, but YVHA was an incredible resource,” he says. On lottery day, “I was very excited to get that phone call.”

As one of the earliest homeowners at the Cottonwoods, he has been noting the friendliness of neighbors – and the commonalities they share as working locals throughout the development. “There are a bunch of families and people all moving into the Cottonwoods together, and there is definitely a sense of camaraderie,” he says. “It’s a really warm environment.”

“I spent all of my tiny savings to pay for grad school,” she says, “and I’ve been living out of boxes at my parents’ place for several years.” The unaffordability of the local housing market made the prospect of buying her own home seem unattainable – until, that is, new opportunities at the Cottonwoods hit her radar. After meeting with Araceli, YVHA’s Housing Navigator, Colleen began the process to apply and enter the lottery system. “I was really hopeful – I’ve been feeling very ready for this next step,” she says. As luck would have it, Colleen received a phone call on her birthday, letting her know she had won the lottery for a 2-bedroom condo. In her words, “it feels like I’m finally being given the chance to really set up a life for myself in the community that raised me.”

“I came here in 2019 with the intention for it to be a brief stint – but the Yampa Valley Curse got me,” says Lauren. “I love that it’s a close-knit community. You can really go anywhere and make friends.” As a first-time homebuyer, Lauren was no stranger to the stress of unaffordability that has come to accompany life in the Valley. “My best friend is leaving Steamboat for better-paying work in Denver. I see this a lot amongst people in my age group – they can’t find jobs that pay enough to live here,” she says.

Having lived at Alpenglow prior (a YVHA partnership property focused on affordability for the local workforce) allowed Lauren to save up for an eventual down payment on her new Cottonwoods condo. Lauren touts the local vibe as her favorite thing about Cottonwoods living so far. “It feels like a real community,” she says. “I’ve met a bunch of neighbors, and we all have some commonalities and shared aspects to our life stories. It does feel good to have a little slice of Steamboat that is finally ours.”

Doug moved to Steamboat fresh out of college in the 1980’s and quickly fell in love with the Yampa Valley. “The mountains, the skiing, the biking…. plus, there are lots of great people, and not much crime. I feel safe here.” He has grown deep roots in this community over time, with both of his parents receiving end-of-life care at Casey’s (formerly Doak Walker).

With all that’s great about Steamboat, he says that the cost of living can make things more difficult. “I’ve had to work multiple jobs at the same time to afford life here, but it’s been worth it,” he says, as we stroll out past a bubbling clownfish tank onto his sunny new deck overlooking Mount Werner. “This new place [at the Cottonwoods] is where I plan to retire.”

“Steamboat is a beautiful corner of the world, and will always be a special place for me,” Molly says, “but the cost of living is difficult. At one point I was working 4 jobs to try and piece things together. Before [The Cottonwoods] opportunity became a reality, I wasn’t sure how much longer I would have been able to afford to stay here,” she says. “I love my work and have made some amazing friends in town – I was not ready to move on!”

With the completion of The Cottonwoods, Molly is now a first-time homeowner in this place that is so dear to her. “My favorite thing about living here is how central it is to everything. I can ride my bike to work and will be able to catch a bus to the resort during ski season.” Molly emphasizes that while the road to homeownership has been tough, that working with YVHA was ultimately a very rewarding process. “It was a lot of waiting and uncertainty, but Araceli was always available to answer any questions I had,” she says. “I am so grateful for her work, and for the work of the YVHA Board and the community of Steamboat for pushing this dream into reality.”

Since moving to town pre-pandemic, she felt the draw of an increasingly magnetic pull making her want to stay. “I feel connected to a special group of people here,” says Tammy. Her active lifestyle and full circle of friends outweigh the downsides to Steamboat life, such as premium costs on groceries, gas and other necessities.

After several summers spent trying to buy a home in the Yampa Valley, Tammy was reaching the end of her rope. Each time a potential home would hit her radar, she would get her hopes up, only for things to fizzle out. In the fall of 2025, she heard talk of affordable opportunities at The Cottonwoods, and started a complex (yet well-supported) journey to homeownership. “Ultimately, this is what I wanted,” she says, “and I wouldn’t be here without [YVHA staff members] Araceli and Lala. I’m super grateful. I’m very happy to be entering a period of my life where I can be at peace.”

In 2021, Candice and her family were offered access to a 3-bedroom rental unit at Alpenglow Village – they would become some of the first residents at the new development. “It was nerve-wracking, moving to a different community and not knowing anyone outside of work,” Candice says, “but I do feel safe in our home, and I am grateful to have this stability in my life now.” Having access to affordable housing options “allowed me to have a growth transition and not be stuck in the stigma that I could ‘never get out of this’. Now I can afford to buy a reliable vehicle AND still pay all my bills at the end of the month. I don’t have a ton of flexible cash – but everything important is paid.”

Nowadays, Candice works as a Registered Behavior Technician at the Yampa Valley Autism Program (YVAP), providing services such as job coaching to community members in need of dedicated support. “Steamboat is such a special place,” she says, “there is so much character, and everyone can sort of find their niche. There is community, there is culture.” But she also recognizes that everyone struggles from time to time. “You can find your people here, but it can be hard to break into social circles where there is such a great wealth divide. It can be difficult to understand each other.”

Overall, living at Alpenglow has given Candice (and her family) the chance to grow and move safely into the next chapter of their lives. “It helps me to accept that I deserve this,” she says. “I have worked hard, and I deserve this home. I may not make as much money as others in this community, but I still have the opportunity to thrive.”

He purchased his lot at Fish Creek in 2007, always knowing he would eventually need to replace the aging structure. But replacing a mobile home is expensive. Jason’s new 760-square-foot, two-bedroom home cost approximately $130,000 — about $142,000 all-in with appliances, installation, and improvements. Additional costs for permits, utility connections, demolition, and asbestos mitigation added tens of thousands more. Stable lot rent made it possible.

Jason currently pays $570 per month, which includes trash and snow removal. In contrast, private parks in Routt County are charging $1,600 or more per month — more than double YVHA’s rate. “When private owners raise lot rents dramatically, you can’t invest in your home,” Jason says. “I bought this one because I knew YVHA would keep lot fees reasonable.”

YVHA also encouraged Jason to apply for outside funding. He received a $40,000 grant from Atmos Energy, helping offset the cost of replacing his older home, which required asbestos mitigation before removal. The result? A highly efficient new home with gas bills under $60 per month, electricity around $20 per month, and dramatically lower maintenance costs. “I’m going to save thousands in utilities over time,” Jason says. “And I know I can stay here.”

Jason’s story highlights why YVHA’s ownership of mobile home parks matters. By keeping lot rents stable and reasonable, YVHA gives local workers the confidence to reinvest in safe, efficient housing — and the ability to remain part of the community they help sustain. Protecting affordability at the ground level protects the entire community.

For years I had it in my head that when my girls grew up and moved on, I hoped I could live at Hillside Village. But there was always a waiting list—especially for the one-bedroom apartments. When my daughters left home, I moved into Ski Corp’s employee housing at The Ponds. Back then you could only stay there for three years, so I applied to Hillside Village and waited. It took more than a year before a one-bedroom finally opened up.

Getting that apartment was a lifesaver. My daughters are both in their twenties now. My oldest lives in Marquette, where she works as a sports trainer for the university and was actually able to buy a home. My younger daughter lives in Portland and is working and renting. It makes me sad that they can’t afford to live here in Steamboat Springs. I would love to have them nearby, but the cost of housing makes that almost impossible.

After 38 years at Ski Corp, I started having health issues from the stress of the job. They encouraged me to retire so I could take care of myself. I retired about a year ago, and now I work part-time for Moving Mountains. I do grocery shopping for guests staying in the vacation homes—stocking their refrigerators and pantries before they arrive. It’s perfect for me now. I get their list, do the shopping, deliver everything, and it keeps me active without the stress I had before.

Being able to live at Hillside Village makes all of this possible. At this stage of my life, having a place I can afford means I don’t have to leave the community I’ve been part of for nearly four decades. My church is here. My friends are here. Starting over somewhere else at 62 would be incredibly hard.

And Kate has helped me tremendously. She keeps the place running and she knows everyone. When I needed a new service dog, she made sure I had all the proper paperwork and helped make the process easy. She truly cares about the residents here.

Without Hillside Village, I probably wouldn’t be able to stay in Steamboat. Having stable, affordable housing in retirement has allowed me to focus on my health, keep working a little, and stay connected to the community that has been my home for most of my life.”

My wife took care of me for years, but it was an extreme hardship and we needed to find something more sustainable. Two years ago, I was able to move into Hillside in a wheelchair accessible apartment allowing me to be independent, still work, and contribute to my community.

I feel so lucky that this wheelchair accessible apartment was available, otherwise, I don’t know what I would have done. Steamboat Springs is my home and I feel so blessed that I can stay in my community.

Having safe, affordable, and stable housing means the world to me. I am not burdening my family. A nurse comes several times a week to check on me and I have a part-time job with the Northwest Colorado Center for Independence as a Community Advocate.

The City’s Yellow Line minivan allows me to travel from my apartment and have an independent life.”

We applied for government assistance programs, Medicaid and food stamps. We put ourselves on a waiting list for subsidized housing with YVHA. Our pregnancy was complicated and we were only able to maintain one income. We found ourselves incredibly lucky to get the call that we were able to move into a clean, warm, two bedroom apartment at Hillside Village Apartments. Only a few months later, we brought our son home. Living with subsidized rent allowed us to get ahead, finally! We were able to properly provide for our son, maintain jobs, and afford childcare. When our son was two years old, we no longer needed assistance programs, nor did we qualify for them anymore. We moved into a townhouse that we later purchased as our first home. Now, we own a house. We both work at the local hospital, and we do our best to give back to the community that we love and we feel incredibly grateful for the support and assistance we received in our time of need.”

We were on the waiting list at Hillside for one and a half years and now we have a wonderful two-bedroom apartment. We are so thankful to YVHA and the community to having this resource available.”

Ahmad emphasized the community atmosphere at Hillside, “We have less stress now that we are in safe, stable housing in Steamboat Springs. Instead of working multiple jobs, my wife and I can spend the weekends with our children helping them with homework and raising them to be good people with life and social skills. Plus, Hillside is more than just housing, it’s a community, we help each other out.”

With an affordable rent at Hillside, Ahmad’s wife said, “I can quit my part-time job to be able to attend Colorado Mountain College while our children are in school. With a college degree I will have more opportunities to get a better job, support my family and save for future housing options.”

The people who wanted to purchase the park could have said whatever they wanted, but I ultimately knew if they were able to purchase the park, we would all eventually be kicked out and unable to move our homes anywhere.

Those first two months were so stressful for me, thinking I could very well lose my house. Taking the lead for the homeowners was also stressful, but thanks to the Housing Authority it made everything much easier on me.

Knowing that the Housing Authority had already been successful with the Fish Creek mobile home park, it gave me the confidence that we could somehow figure the whole thing out. Obviously, the private donations were crucial and we couldn’t be more thankful and happy to receive those. I think a key to getting those donations was the help of the Yampa Valley Housing Authority, the Yampa Valley Community Foundation, and getting the news out in the Steamboat Today paper.

I can’t thank all the people that helped save our homes enough, it was a true blessing to have the help we did!!”