SERVING THOSE WHO SERVED
Developing a welcoming, affordable, small community for veterans on Colorado's Western Slope
289 North 1st Street, Silt, CO 81652
Like many mountain communities, western Colorado faces rising housing costs and limited affordable housing.
For veterans living on fixed incomes, managing disabilities, recovering from trauma, or rebuilding their civilian lives, one unexpected crisis—a medical emergency, job loss, divorce, or financial setback—can quickly lead to housing instability or homelessness.
Colorado's Homeless Management Information System reports that approximately 6% of individuals seeking homelessness services are veterans.
Behind every statistic is a person who once served our nation. Veterans deserve more than temporary shelter—they deserve a place where they can rebuild their lives and build a new sense of community.
A VISION FOR SOMETHING BETTER
Many veterans in our community are losing their homes/apartments and finding themselves homeless, when 45% of the veterans in Garfield, Pitkin and Eagle Counties are 65+. Veterans in the Roaring Fork and Eagle Valleys on fixed incomes ($1,200–$1,800/mo) are mathematically excluded from a market where median rents exceed $1,600.
The Western Slope Veterans Community Cottages will be the Coalition's first permanent supportive housing community.
Located on a two-acre site in Silt, Colorado, the neighborhood has been intentionally designed to provide not only housing—but community. The site offers convenient access to downtown Silt while providing opportunities for outdoor recreation near the Colorado River and the Silt River Preserve Trail, supporting both physical and mental wellness.
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Thank you to Giving Network and to our supporters for $10k!
With the help of our donors, we raised $10,000 for our Tiny Homes project. The Aspen Community Foundation Giving Network has chosen the Western Veterans Coalition this year and has made an astonishing impact for our mission. We want to thank them for generously granting us the opportunity to move forward with this project, and to thank all of our other donors for all the kind giving this year.
ABOUT THIS COMMUNITY
For veterans, many who are elderly and lower income, some disabled, this community will provide not
only a safe home but also stability, dignity, and access to supportive
resources. This project also provides a community of people with similar past experiences in the military.
In this development, will be a Housing Manager's unit, and a Community Center. The manager will live on site to monitor living rules and coordinate events. The Community Center will be a gathering location for veterans and their guests for social events and recreation as well as educational programming.
There will be two offices on site that will be used for VA counselors or health care.
In addition, there will be a suitable kitchen for preparing meals for residents or to use in conjunction with the FTCC to prepare meals for senior citizens or others in need in the community.
When complete, the community will include:
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22 ADA-accessible veteran cottages (approximately 390 square feet each)
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2 family homes (approximately 1,500 square feet)
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Housing manager residence
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1,800-square-foot community center
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Two onsite offices for VA counselors and health care providers
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A community kitchen supporting resident meals
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Walking paths
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Fire pits
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Gardens
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Outdoor gathering spaces
Every element has been designed to reduce isolation while fostering independence and long-term stability. This is not simply a housing development. It is a community built by veterans, for veterans—one where a safe address is the starting point for recovery, not the end goal.
The Housing and Urban Development–VA Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program is a joint federal initiative that pairs rental assistance vouchers from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) with VA case management and supportive services. This community will be developed with supportive housing programs such as HUD-VASH, in partnership with the Garfield County Housing Authority.
Every resident will be connected to dedicated case management coordinating health care, VA benefits, employment services, and life-skills support. All veteran and basic-need services will be coordinated onsite, with programming overseen by a full-time Housing Manager who will live in the community alongside residents—available around the clock to connect residents with the right resource at the right time.
Sponsor the Community
This packet provides more information about you can support men and women who once stood guard for our country with a safe door to close at night and somewhere to call home.
OUR TEAM
APPLICANT
APPLICANT/LAND OWNER
OWNERS REPRESENTATIVE/PLANNER
ENGINEER
ARCHITECT
