Churches and religious organizations entered the affordable-housing market decades ago, but with the dire shortage of low-income units in Colorado Springs, the traditional development model is morphing into a new way to meet the need.
Woodmen Valley Chapel’s community outreach program, The Center for Strategic Ministry, has donated 1 acre of land to the nonprofit Greccio Housing.
The organization will build and operate an apartment complex in northeast Colorado Springs for seniors ages 62 and above.
The proposed three-story Sunrise at Shiloh Mesa will feature 45 to 50 one- and two-bedroom units with elevators, property security and common areas.
The building will be adjacent to the church’s Woodmen Heights campus, which opened in 2005.
Greccio has been providing inexpensive rentals since its 1990 founding by ex-nun Claudia Deats-Rodgers and now owns 581 units that house nearly 1,000 people. More than 75% of tenants have an income of 50% or less of the area’s median income.
Their properties have long waiting lists.
Greccio started doing projects in conjunction with churches and other faith-based organizations four years ago.
It’s the first foray into affordable housing for Woodmen Valley Chapel, which serves about 10,000 worshippers on five campuses in Colorado Springs.