Mountainlands Community Housing Trust, which develops and supports affordable housing, is one of three organizations hosting an informational meeting to provide information about affordable housing on Tuesday, August 20, at the Park City Library. The meeting in English will be from 6 to 7 p.m., while the meeting in Spanish will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Both meetings are also accessible via Zoom.
“We help the community understand what is available to them given their situation and what process they need to go through,” says Angelica Espinoza, housing navigator at Mountainlands’ Housing Resource Center.
Mountainlands Community Housing Association
The presentations include information on how to find affordable housing and how to determine if you qualify, as well as a look at the application and approval process. Espinoza says the process can vary depending on the individual’s situation and whether they are applying for affordable housing or rental status.
She says the steps include applying for a home equity loan and having a pre-approval letter from the lender ready. She says the Housing Resource Center can help with every step.
“The Housing Resource Center is there to provide everyone with information about all the programs available to you as a community member or worker,” Espinoza said.
Organizers will also collect names of attendees interested in rental opportunities at Engine House and Studio Crossings during the meetings. Both projects are still under construction.
“The waiting list for affordable housing is on average 12 to 24 months,” Espinoza said.
Espinoza says eligibility is decided on a case-by-case basis and there are some differences between programs. However, all programs take into account how an individual or family’s income compares to the area median income (AMI). Some organizations also consider immigration status.
“We know that the workforce needs it because the cost of living here has skyrocketed,” said Espinoza.
She said it had become too expensive for workers – including teachers, firefighters and private nurses – to live in Park City.
“Of all the firefighters, two live within the city limits and about five live in the county,” Espinoza said.
Some affordable housing units are zoned as workforce housing. She says she sees both families and individuals applying for affordable housing.
