Serving Western Colorado for Over 40 Years
Housing Resources of Western Colorado celebrated a milestone in 2022: our 45th anniversary. In 1977, we launched as the Grand Junction Public Energy Information Office to provide solar energy conservation, education, and recycling programs. Since that time, we have added new programs and increased our service area to meet the needs of homeowners, homebuyers, and renters throughout western Colorado. In 1982, with the launch of our first state contract for weatherization, we became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. In 2001, we officially joined the NeighborWorks America network as a chartered member and changed our name to Housing Resources of Western Colorado the following year. Today we offer programs and services in 15 counties driven by our belief that every Colorado resident should have the opportunity to thrive in a quality, safe, and healthy home. We are just getting started.
As we look back over the past 45 years, our staff and board can’t help but reflect on how much has changed in western Colorado, and to wonder if the founders of The Public Energy Information Office could have imagined our growth trajectory back in 1977. While we imagine the next 45 years, we remain committed to helping western Colorado residents improve their lives through housing and community services.
History Timeline
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1977
Founded as The Grand Junction Public Energy Information Office and funded by Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction to provide solar energy conservation, education and recycling program.
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1982
Began delivering low cost weatherization under funding from the Colorado Office of Energy Conservation.
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1982
Became a 501C (3) not for profit organization.
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1988
Awarded contract from the Colorado Division of Housing to provide Weatherization in Mesa County.
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1991
Established the Housing Rehabilitation program.
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1995Certified by the State of Colorado as a Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) under the state HOME Program. Initiation of the CHDO designation was prompted by the need for development of permanent affordable housing options in the Grand Junction and Mesa County areas.
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1997Established a USDA Rural Development Mutual Self Help Housing program.
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1998
Initiated the affordable rental program with the purchase of Tiffany Apartments - 15 units.
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1999Produced first tax credit project - Grand Valley Apartments - 50 units.
Expanded the Weatherization program to become the regional provider.
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2000
Purchased and rehabilitated Linden Apartments - 12 units.
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2001
Became a charter member of NeighborWorks America.
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2002
Changed our name from The Energy Office to Housing Resources of Western Colorado.
Celebrated 25th anniversary.
Purchased and rehabbed second tax credit project - Garden Village Apartments - 91 units.
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2003
Purchased an energy efficient office building located at 524 30 Road and relocated Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWC) offices.
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2004 Partnered with Homeward Bound to establish the Phoenix project, the purchase and rehab of 8 apartments for homeless Veterans transitional housing.
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2005
Established a HUD Housing Counseling program.
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2006
Purchased four HUD foreclosures for rehab and resale.
Assumed field operations at the MADA weatherization office.
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2007
Increased efforts towards energy conservation by holding a green design workshop, teaching building professionals about green techniques, and initiating LEED-EB certification process for HRWC office building.
Celebrated 30th Anniversary and completion of over 200 Self Help homes.
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2008
Increased replacement of refrigerators, furnaces, and boilers by 150% through ESP Plus program by partnership with Mesa County Youth Corps.
Received donation of 12 acres of vacant land from Mesa County.
Began foreclosure mitigation counseling with work-out plans/loan modifications.
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2009
Increased by over 100% number of Tier I energy audits completed.
Completed 46 homes in Self Help Program—an increase in production of over 100%!
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2010
Received first designation of Grand Junction for LEED Existing Building Certification for our Plaza de Sol office building.
Received $2.2 million in federal stimulus funds for Weatherization program to double production.
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2011
Completed construction of our Community Building at Garden Village Apartments.
Received $2.5 million in grant funds and completed 510 weatherization jobs.
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2012
Completed our 300th home in Mutual Self-Help Housing Program.
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2013
Through a grant from Renewable Energy Trust and Xcel rebates, Housing Resources installed a 29.645KW photovoltaric system on our office building. 90% of our electrical needs are met through this new system.
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2015
HRWC takes sole ownership of Grand Valley Apartments and creates JayLee Partnership.
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2015
Grid Alternatives, Grand Valley Power, and Housing Resources develop nation’s first community solar garden program dedicated to families qualified as low-income.
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2016
NeighborWorks America launches the NeighborWorks Book. HRWC’s Solar Garden project is included in book with other network non-profit projects from across the nation.
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2018
HRWC became a Certified Housing Development Organization for the State of Colorado, and received a HUD Housing Counseling Certification.
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2018
Being a Certified HUD Housing Counseling Agency this allowed HRWC to create their fifth program, Housing Counseling and Education. HRWC also hired an experienced and Certified HUD Housing Counselor to manage and serve fourteen counties in Western Colorado.
The Housing Counseling and Education Program assists clients in these areas: Rental Counseling; Financial Coaching, i.e., budgeting and credit issues; Pre-Purchase Counseling for those seeking to purchase a home; Post-Purchase Coaching to be a successful homeowner; Foreclosure Prevention; Student Loan Counseling; and Homebuyer Education Classes.
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2018
Community Building and Engagement was added as a program. The vision for this program is to connect people, places and local community systems that provide euqitable opportunities for people to thrive.
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2019
HRWC hired two more HUD Certified Housing Counselors to better meet the needs of Western Colorado.
The Housing Counseling and Education program service territory was extended to two more county's, Pitkin and Eagle, where residents had no access to Housing Counselors.
Children from Clifton Village South making their selection for new park equipment and the Park site.
The Engagement, a partnership of local agencies in the Valley, collected Back-to-School clothes, supplies and shoes for 15 families that needed assistance at Garden Village Apartments. Each child received their own polka-dot bag with custom items just for them.
Back-to-School items being reviewed...I think that the back-pack is O.K.!
Excited to see what the Back-to-school bags contain!
