Mesa County Hosts Open House for Housing Needs Assessment

Community feedback sought on housing challenges and solutions in the Grand Valley

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction held an open house on Thursday to gather public input on a housing needs assessment for the Grand Valley. The interactive event allowed attendees to review data, provide feedback on housing challenges, and suggest potential solutions. The goal is to better understand the community's housing priorities and preferences to inform future policy and development decisions.

Why it matters

As housing costs continue to rise in the Grand Valley, community input is critical to ensuring that future housing solutions meet the needs of local residents. The housing needs assessment will help local officials identify the biggest challenges facing homebuyers and renters, as well as explore innovative ideas like accessory dwelling units (ADUs) that could expand affordable housing options.

The details

The open house featured data visualizations and interactive stations where attendees could share their thoughts on topics like housing affordability, availability of different home types, and barriers to homeownership. Participants were encouraged to identify their top housing concerns and propose potential solutions that the city and county could pursue. "Hearing from the local community is so pivotal to this work," said Grand Junction Housing Manager Ashley Chambers. "Data doesn't necessarily tell us what's important to our community, whereas the survey and the feedback will really help us hone in on what this community wants and needs."

  • The open house was held on Thursday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Mesa County

The county government that, along with the City of Grand Junction, hosted the housing needs assessment open house.

City of Grand Junction

The local municipal government that, along with Mesa County, hosted the housing needs assessment open house.

Ashley Chambers

The Grand Junction Housing Manager who emphasized the importance of community feedback in the housing needs assessment process.

Jennifer Cutts

An attendee of the open house who expressed interest in accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as a potential housing solution.

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What they’re saying

“Hearing from the local community is so pivotal to this work. Data doesn't necessarily tell us what's important to our community, whereas the survey and the feedback will really help us hone in on what this community wants and needs.”

— Ashley Chambers, Grand Junction Housing Manager (westernslopenow.com)

“They made this fun and interactive and getting people's votes and ideas and opinions actually shows that the city's listening to us and keeping our interest. It makes us feel heard.”

— Jennifer Cutts, Attendee (westernslopenow.com)

What’s next

The city and county plan to use the feedback gathered at the open house to finalize the housing needs assessment and develop strategies to address the community's top housing priorities.

The takeaway

By actively engaging the public in the housing needs assessment process, Mesa County and the City of Grand Junction are demonstrating a commitment to finding housing solutions that truly meet the needs and preferences of local residents. This collaborative approach could serve as a model for other communities grappling with complex housing challenges.