Housing
Grand Junction is committed to enacting housing policies and partnering with outside organizations that seek to increase affordable housing options, diversify housing choice, decrease the gap between need and housing inventory, and assist those without homes to access supportive services.
Click here to learn more about the Housing Needs Assessment and Housing Action Plan currently underway.
Housing Division Overview
The Housing Division was launched in 2022 following the adoption of the City of Grand Junction Housing Strategy. The Housing Division has grown to three full time staff and has supported Colorado Mesa University interns, Bachelor of Social Work student, and an Americorp Hometown Fellow.
Housing & Houselessness as a City Priority
Grand Junction's 2020 Comprehensive Plan serves as a blueprint for the city, with it's foundation resting on the community's vision for the future. This vision provides guidance for the formulation of goals, strategies, and overall development in Grand Junction including housing and services for the unhoused specifically under Comprehensive Plan Principle 5: Strong Neighborhoods and Housing Choice. The Strategic Outcomes, updated every two years, integrates the priorities identified as most crucial by City Council into the broader framework of city planning and development. Housing and unhoused services were identified in the 2023-2025 City Council Strategic Outcome: Welcoming, Livable, Engaging to ensure that our community fosters a sense of belonging, where people are accepted as themselves and have access to the amenities, services they need to thrive, and actively seeks participation from our community.
Financial Support for Housing & Houselessness
For at least 20 years, the City has been actively supporting housing and houseless initiatives in the community. This funding encompasses capital projects, operational support for service providers, emergency assistance during COVID, funding for housing and homeless projects, matching and securing grants for housing initiatives, and actively expanding the City's role in addressing housing and houselessness issues.
From 2022 to its adopted 2024 budget, the City has committed $19 million in direct funding, which includes $4.45 million in awarded grants to funding housing and unhoused initiatives in the community. This investment has been instrumental in leveraging over $43 million in community and partner investment, resulting in a total housing investment of $62 million. These funds have facilitated the construction of at least 102 units of affordable housing and have laid the groundwork for the future development of an additional estimated 500 units of affordable housing within the community.
The 2024 Annual Report shows a detailed list of the partners, organizations, and projects the City has contributed to in 2022 & 2023.
View Past Reports:
Grand Valley Housing Needs Assessment and Strategy
In 2019, the City and its partners began work with Root Policy Research, a Colorado consultancy with extensive experience in the housing field, on the Grand Valley Housing Needs Assessment (PDF). In 2021, the Housing Needs Assessment was completed. The Housing needs assessment informed the creation of the original 2021 City of Grand Junction Housing Strategy (PDF). On October 6, 2021, the City adopted Resolution 82-21 (PDF) which included twelve original housing strategies. On December 21, 2022, the City adopted Resolution 96-22 (PDF), which added a thirteenth housing strategy to promote community engagement and education around housing.
On October 16, 2024, the City adopted Resolution 74-24 (PDF), adopting the City of Grand Junction Housing Strategy Update 2024 (PDF) builds on the City’s accomplishments and investments over the past 3 years, complements the recently completed Unhoused Strategy, and is tailored to address identified needs to reflect eleven key strategies.
The thirteen housing strategies adopted by City Council are as follows:
- 1 Continue to implement land use changes that facilitate attainable housing development and housing
- 2 Explore new incentives for affordable/attainable housing development
- 3 Leverage city owned land and/or strategically acquire land for affordable and mixed-income housin
- 4 Create a dedicated funding source to address housing challenges.
- 5 Continue/expand funding for existing housing and homelessness services.
- 6 Support preservation of existing housing that serves low-and moderate-income households.
- 7 Evaluate inclusionary housing and/or a linkage fee ordinance.
- 8 Explore designation of Urban Renewal Are and Tax Increment Financing for affordable housing.
- 9 Provide Community engagement and education opportunities to address housing challenges and promot
- 10 Support legislative efforts at the state level to improve housing outcomes
- 11 Monitor goal progress and housing program outcomes.
Unhoused Needs Survey
In the fall of 2022, the City of Grand Junction’s Housing Division developed a survey to hear directly from People Experiencing Houselessness (PEH). The goal was to identify both gateways into houselessness and barriers to exiting it in Grand Junction. In 2024, the survey was updated to include a comparison with the original findings published in 2025.
View the 2025 Unhoused Survey Report (PDF).
Past Survey Reports:
Unhoused Needs Assessment
In June 2023, the City, in collaboration with the Mesa County Behavioral Health Team and with the Grand Junction Housing Authority, and with grants received from Western Colorado Community Foundation, Rocky Mountain Health Plans, and the Colorado Department of Local Affairs, initiated a comprehensive Unhoused Needs Assessment (UHNA) with JG Research. The UHNA was aimed at understanding the current and anticipated needs of people experiencing houselessness (PEH) and the housing and supportive service agencies dedicated to assisting them. The assessment was conducted to evaluate and pinpoint crucial housing and service gaps, identify barriers, and gauge the present system's capacity to address them. It's overarching purpose was to guide community strategies, ensuring that instances of houselessness are infrequent, brief, and not recurring. The assessment was completed in November 2023. View the Unhoused Needs Assessment (UHNA) JG Research also identified key strategies to fill gaps and address significant prioritized needs of unhoused individuals. Recommended and actions and timelines were provided for each strategy as to how the city, county and other partners can work together. View the Unhoused Strategy.
Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan
The Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan is a community-wide plan that builds upon the research conducted by JG Research in the UHNA. It enhances the initial findings outlined in the Unhoused Strategy Report, transforming them into a comprehensive community-wide plan. The plan is aimed at addressing critical gaps and meeting the immediate needs of individuals experiencing homelessness in the Grand Junction area and aligning with the overarching community objective of achieving Functional Zero.
The Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan was formally adopted by City Council on July 3, 2024, through Resolution 49-24. The City’s adoption of the plan represents an alignment with its goals and strategies, recognizing that implementation is a collaborative effort coordinated across multiple agencies, service providers, and community partners.
View the Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan.
Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan Workgroups
The Unhoused Strategy & Implementation Plan is guided by nine collaborative workgroups that bring together city and county staff, service providers, nonprofit organizations, faith-based partners, and community members. Each workgroup focuses on a specific area of need and works collectively to coordinate resources, identify gaps, and advance actionable solutions to reduce homelessness and improve housing stability in Grand Junction.
Together, the nine workgroups address:
Outreach & Basic Needs – Expanding outreach efforts, connecting individuals to essential services, and improving access to hygiene, nutrition, and basic care.
Shelter & Emergency Housing – Strengthening shelter capacity, improving coordination among providers, and ensuring year-round access to safe, low-barrier shelter options.
Housing Stability – Increasing access to permanent housing, landlord engagement, and supportive programs that help people remain stably housed.
Health & Behavioral Health – Integrating physical, mental, and behavioral health care with housing support to promote long-term wellness.
Public Safety & Neighborhood Impact – Collaborating with public safety partners to ensure safe, balanced approaches to community concerns and encampment response.
Employment & Economic Stability – Connecting individuals to employment, workforce training, and income supports to build pathways toward independence.
Youth & Family Support – Addressing the unique needs of youth and families experiencing homelessness through prevention, intervention, and coordinated services.
Governance & Data – Improving coordination, data sharing, and evaluation to guide decision-making and track progress across agencies.
Community Engagement & Education – Fostering public understanding, encouraging volunteerism, and strengthening community partnerships that support housing and stability.
Each workgroup plays an essential role in implementing the strategies outlined in the plan and ensuring that efforts remain coordinated, collaborative, and responsive to community needs.
📈 Learn more about how these workgroups are taking action to implement the strategy in the 2025 Community-Wide Progress Update.
💬 Interested in getting involved?
Community members and organizations are encouraged to participate in a workgroup by emailing housing@gjcity.org for more information.