Snowmass Village Reexamines Workforce Housing Rules

What happens to Snowmass Village's workforce housing residents when winter conditions reduce their work hours? The town's current rules require a minimum of 1,400 hours a year - roughly 27 hours a week - to qualify for and maintain workforce housing. This is less than the traditional full-time schedule of 30-40 hours a week, but it's intended to reflect the seasonality of Snowmass, according to Kevin Rayes, the town's housing director.

The town's setup already acknowledges the inconsistency of work hours in a seasonal place, but the council is re-examining how the Housing Department handles compliance with housing and work requirements after a winter season that saw reduced work for many employees. Mayor Alyssa Shenk noted that this is the first time the town has faced a season like this in a long time. Rayes agreed, stating that the town acknowledges the challenging season and wants to monitor how the rest of the year goes.

The town currently provides 314 apartments for 412 residents, with all leases beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31 annually. For those who don't meet the hourly requirement, they're asked to sign an affidavit and given a "grace period" to make up the hours the following year. In 2024, 31 residents signed an affidavit due to being short on hours, and of those, 21 made their hours in 2025. However, five had to be informed they must move out at the end of the season for non-compliance two years in a row.

In 2025, 20 new residents signed an affidavit due to being short on hours, with nine of those also signing a self-employed affidavit requiring them to log hours and file wages on taxes. Only two residents moved out before the end of 2025, with plans to retire in 2026. While Rayes doesn't have hard data on how the winter impacted local employees, he's heard anecdotally that it slowed down operations for some, while others, like those at restaurants in Base Village, saw a busier season because people weren't skiing as much.

Council Member Tom Fridstein expressed concern about the members of the workforce who were impacted by the reduced winter work. "I know there are people in the community that are concerned because they weren't able to meet their hours," Fridstein said. The council's discussion highlights the challenges of maintaining a workforce housing program in a town with a seasonal economy. Make no mistake, the town's rules are in place to ensure that residents can afford to live in Snowmass, but the recent season has put a strain on the system.

The comparison to the Aspen/Pitkin County Housing Authority's 1,500 hour work requirement is worth noting. Snowmass's requirement of 1,400 hours is lower, but it's still a significant burden for residents who may not have consistent work throughout the year. The town's "grace period" policy is also an important aspect of the program, as it allows residents to make up for missed hours without penalty. However, the fact that five residents had to be informed they must move out at the end of the season for non-compliance two years in a row raises questions about the effectiveness of this policy.

As the town moves forward, it will be important to monitor how the Housing Department handles compliance with housing and work requirements. The impact of the winter season has highlighted the need for flexibility in the system, and the council will need to consider how to balance the needs of residents with the requirements of the program. Read that again - the town is not just discussing workforce housing requirements, but also the impact of winter on the local economy and the people who live and work in Snowmass.

The short version is that Snowmass Village is re-examining its workforce housing rules after a low snow season reduced work hours for many employees. The town's current rules are in place to ensure that residents can afford to live in Snowmass, but the council is considering how to make the system more flexible and responsive to the needs of the community. This is a story worth watching, as it will have a direct impact on the lives of people who live and work in Snowmass. What will the council decide, and how will it affect the town's workforce housing program? The community will be waiting to see how this plays out.