class=”sc-cffd1e67-0 iQNQmc”>
An annual salary of almost 150,000 francs, living in a chic ski resort and being employed by the city: the city of Steamboat Springs in the US state of Colorado wants to attract a new HR manager to the city with what at first glance appears to be a lucrative job offer . But so far the search for a suitable candidate has been unsuccessful. Not because of the city’s high standards, but because of the applicants.
Recently, two promising candidates declined because they couldn’t find affordable housing, despite the prospect of a six-figure salary.
That’s how expensive a house is in Steamboat Springs
During and after the pandemic, rents have skyrocketed in the city, which is about a three-hour drive from Denver. And to a bizarre extent: Since 2020, prices for single-family homes have risen by about 80 percent to $1.8 million, the equivalent of almost R1.6 million. Anyone earning less than $200,000 (R177,000) a year can no longer afford to own their own home in the small town.
The price explosion is mainly due to the boom in home offices and investors who buy up apartments and rent them out to tourists at high prices through platforms such as Airbnb.
It’s not just the city council that can’t find new people. The local hospital also cannot fill some positions because even doctors willing to pay more than a million dollars for a home are outbid.
A nearby ski resort is now housing its employees in a rented hotel, NBC reports. They simply can’t afford the rent in Steamboat Springs.
“In the past, houses were for employees and hotels were for guests. “Now there are houses for guests and hotels for employee housing,” said Loryn Duke, communications director for the ski area.
Hospital builds apartments for employees
Now the residents of Steamboat Springs are fighting among themselves. At the heart of the dispute are the questions of how more living space can be created and who should pay for it. When it comes to building new living space, there are always objections. Residents worry about traffic congestion or the ‘migration patterns’ of wildlife.
“It’s too much to handle, it’s too big, it’s too much, it’s too expensive, it’s causing too many problems for the existing city,” NBC quoted one resident, who led opposition to a construction project for 2,200 new residential units. There is fear that a second-class neighborhood will emerge.
The hospital has now started building housing and is building 42 apartments, the rent of which is limited to 30 percent of the employees’ income. But the money the hospital spends is now lacking on purchasing modern equipment.
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
