Interim Housing (Alternative Housing Options)

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This project page acts as a platform for community engagement, inviting residents to participate in the discussion and provide feedback on Interim Housing.

City Council Adopts Interim Housing

During the August 21, 2024 meeting, City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 5229, which created the zoning regulations for interim housing, including limiting the number of shelters to 30, allowing operation for up to four years at individual sites, and restricting them to non-residential zones. Council members highlighted the importance of public input and acknowledged that interim housing is a necessary, though partial, solution to the city's homelessness challenges.

To view the City Council agenda, watch the meeting, or to review the documents - Click Here

What is interim housing?

Interim Housing can be a broad term used by many groups, like housing organizations and some government agencies, to describe different kinds of temporary shelters. These can include places like interim parking and interim shelters. They're not meant to be permanent buildings and are meant to temporarily provide a safe shelter until more permanent housing solutions can be found. Each housing organization or agency defines it a little differently - for the proposed definition. The City of Grand Junction's code defines interim housing as temporary residential occupancy of multiple relocatable temporary structures for people experiencing houselessness.

Is Interim Housing New?

Interim housing emerged as a temporary solution during the COVID-19 crisis when many congregate shelters were forced to close. This approach serves as a crucial "interim" option, providing shelter while longer-term solutions, such as permanent housing, are developed. Though not intended as a permanent fix, interim housing offers a valuable alternative to traditional shelters, providing more privacy, support, and safety during this transitional period as individuals move toward stable housing. The Housing Continuum below shows the more "traditional" housing types and is reflective of the types of newer housing solutions listed in Interim Housing.


What about Interim Parking, Sanctioned Camping, and the Use of Tents?

The City of Grand Junction has decided to move away from interim parking and sanctioned camping as part of its interim housing strategy. These options pose significant challenges in meeting life safety requirements and, after extensive research and consultations with organizations in various cities, it has become clear that many are shifting toward more structured shelter solutions. Interim parking and sanctioned camping, particularly those involving tents, also face difficulties in securing funding, as they are not typically recognized as housing units. Additionally, the funds available for "outreach" in these contexts are significantly limited, making these models less viable in the long term.


Want to Learn More?

Learn more about interim housing and other current initiatives addressing the unhoused in our community, or to request a meeting or host a group discussion or presentation to your organization or community group contact the City of Grand Junction Housing Division at housing@gjcity.org or call 970.256.4081.


This project page acts as a platform for community engagement, inviting residents to participate in the discussion and provide feedback on Interim Housing.

City Council Adopts Interim Housing

During the August 21, 2024 meeting, City Council unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 5229, which created the zoning regulations for interim housing, including limiting the number of shelters to 30, allowing operation for up to four years at individual sites, and restricting them to non-residential zones. Council members highlighted the importance of public input and acknowledged that interim housing is a necessary, though partial, solution to the city's homelessness challenges.

To view the City Council agenda, watch the meeting, or to review the documents - Click Here

What is interim housing?

Interim Housing can be a broad term used by many groups, like housing organizations and some government agencies, to describe different kinds of temporary shelters. These can include places like interim parking and interim shelters. They're not meant to be permanent buildings and are meant to temporarily provide a safe shelter until more permanent housing solutions can be found. Each housing organization or agency defines it a little differently - for the proposed definition. The City of Grand Junction's code defines interim housing as temporary residential occupancy of multiple relocatable temporary structures for people experiencing houselessness.

Is Interim Housing New?

Interim housing emerged as a temporary solution during the COVID-19 crisis when many congregate shelters were forced to close. This approach serves as a crucial "interim" option, providing shelter while longer-term solutions, such as permanent housing, are developed. Though not intended as a permanent fix, interim housing offers a valuable alternative to traditional shelters, providing more privacy, support, and safety during this transitional period as individuals move toward stable housing. The Housing Continuum below shows the more "traditional" housing types and is reflective of the types of newer housing solutions listed in Interim Housing.


What about Interim Parking, Sanctioned Camping, and the Use of Tents?

The City of Grand Junction has decided to move away from interim parking and sanctioned camping as part of its interim housing strategy. These options pose significant challenges in meeting life safety requirements and, after extensive research and consultations with organizations in various cities, it has become clear that many are shifting toward more structured shelter solutions. Interim parking and sanctioned camping, particularly those involving tents, also face difficulties in securing funding, as they are not typically recognized as housing units. Additionally, the funds available for "outreach" in these contexts are significantly limited, making these models less viable in the long term.


Want to Learn More?

Learn more about interim housing and other current initiatives addressing the unhoused in our community, or to request a meeting or host a group discussion or presentation to your organization or community group contact the City of Grand Junction Housing Division at housing@gjcity.org or call 970.256.4081.

  • Why do we call it interim housing?

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    Interim Housing is a term currently embraced by numerous organizations, the housing sector, and government agencies to categorize shelter types such as sanctioned camping, safe parking, and interim shelters. These facilities are not intended to be permanent structures and may not be mandated to comply with building codes. The emergence of Interim Housing models is a response to the escalating issue of homelessness in many communities, offering temporary solutions to shelter needs.

    Distinct from traditional congregate shelters, Interim Housing models gained prominence during the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. They proved to provide more privacy, support, and health safety, addressing the shortcomings experienced by congregate shelters during outbreaks.

    While Interim Housing is at times interchangeably referred to as "transitional housing," the two terms carry nuanced differences. Transitional housing primarily denotes programmatic goals and supportive services designed to serve as a bridge between temporary and permanent housing. This concept encompasses shared housing, congregate or non-congregate shelters, domestic violence housing, and various other brick-and-mortar structures. While Interim Housing can indeed function as transitional housing, the inverse is not necessarily true, as transitional housing may manifest in diverse forms beyond the scope of Interim Housing.

  • Interim Housing In Grand Junction

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    The unhoused population in Grand Junction has surged by approximately 43%, totaling around 2300 individuals since 2019. Although not all are currently living on the streets, this number is expected to rise due to escalating housing costs. The challenges associated with the rising cost of permanent housing structures and the extended construction timelines have propelled interim housing into a prominent topic of discussion within the community.

    As part of the ongoing Zoning & Development Code (ZDC) Re-write process (2022-2023) and the Unhoused Needs Assessment, the community recognizes that Interim Housing could play a crucial role in the housing continuum. Presently, it is not a shelter type permitted under the existing Zoning and Development Code. Recognizing the significance of this issue, the Development Code Committee has acknowledged the need for broader community input and discussion before formulating detailed recommendations.

    Responding to community and committee input, the City has extended the contract with Clarion Associates, the consultants overseeing the ZDC rewrite, to facilitate the process and provide recommendations. To ensure a comprehensive approach, a working group has been established, consisting of diverse members such as business professionals, non-profit executives, individuals with lived experiences of houselessness, representatives from faith-based organizations, and others.

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  • Examples of Interim Housing in Other Communities

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  • What Sets Interim Housing Apart?

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Page last updated: 27 Aug 2024, 08:47 AM