The Aspen School District is hoping a change to its affordable housing rules will attract and retain more employees. Starting in August, school staff living in district rentals will only be allowed to live there five years. The school’s Employee Transitional Housing Program includes 43 units, mostly in Woody Creek and Snowmass Village.
The goal, says school superintendent John Maloy, is to provide more room for newly hired staff. He says last year, there was just one unit open for 27 new employees.
"This was a tremendous concern because one of the key factors in recruiting and retaining employees is having housing available, and the fact that we only had one available made it very, very difficult last year.”
He says three-quarters of job candidates say they need help with housing. The school does provide its own home loan program and works with staff to find rentals. Maloy says exceptions to the five year rule will be made in special circumstances.