Affordable housing for farm workers now accepting applications

NEWS RELEASE
BOULDER COUNTY HOUSING AND HUMAN SERVICES 
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The Boulder County Housing Authority (BCHA) is accepting applications for some of its 32 subsidized three- and four-bedroom rental homes in its Casa de la Esperanza neighborhood in Longmont.

The homes are specifically targeted to farmworkers in our community, with savings depending on the income and the number of people in the family.

Casa de la Esperanza has been providing affordable housing solutions for farmworkers since the 1990s, and also offers programs, such as a learning center, that supports the families who live there.

"We understand that access to housing is only the first step in promoting self-sufficiency for families,” said Vanessa Arritola, Casa de la Esperanza’s coordinator. “At Casa de la Esperanza's learning center we serve as a bridge between our families and other organizations by offering additional resources such as counseling, food access, recreational activities, and academic opportunities. We hope that farmworkers in need of housing will apply and become part of our community."

With a mission of nurturing and empowering students’ curiosity and academic development, Casa de la Esperanza has a state-of-the-art after-school education center focused on STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) education that is geared toward and open to all youth living in the homes.

The Casa team works in collaboration with the community, local universities, agencies, and corporations to provide school tutoring, robotics programs, and support for other subjects, social activities, and events for its students.

In addition, families residing at Casa receive two food baskets per month, free Zumba classes, and wellness and nutrition workshops.

There are several requirements to qualify for living at Casa de la Esperanza:

• The applicant must have the ability to engage in employment in the U.S. For this, the must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or have a U.S. work permit
• Applicants must show they work in the agricultural field, which can include numerous services related to the cultivation of the land and raising or harvesting of any agricultural or aquacultural products. In addition, applicants must either show that a significant amount of their income comes from agricultural work or provide evidence of having completed 110 days of agricultural work in a year

The monthly rental cost for Casa’s three-bedroom units is $630, and $725 for the four-bedroom units, resulting in an approximate annual savings of $21,144 and $26,100 respectively, compared to the average market cost. Additionally, Casa residents receive a monthly utility allowance of $81 and $103, depending on the unit type.

Interested persons should fill out an electronic application by visiting boco.org/CasaApplication. For more details about Casa de la Esperanza’s evaluation process and requirements, click here.

For more information and general inquiries, please e-mail [email protected].

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