Bluebird powder days are just around the corner, and Aspen One’s Tenants for Turns program is gearing up for another successful winter season of building community on the slopes.
Creatively addressing the Roaring Fork Valley’s housing shortage, especially for seasonal employees, Aspen One launched Tenants for Turns, an incentive program for local landlords and homeowners to rent affordable units to Aspen One employees. In exchange for a room, lessors can receive either a 2024/25 Premier Season and Uphill pass (sans the Ikon Pass), 10 all-mountain, one-day lift ticket vouchers or a $1,500 gift certificate that can be used at any Aspen One business. Lessors can receive an incentive benefit for up to three rooms.
The program is simple. Aspen One acts as the initial connector between lessor and tenant. Once the lessor is approved, their unit is posted to the online portal. Newly-hired Aspen One employees may then begin contacting lessors. From that point, lessors and employees enter a standard rental agreement outside of Aspen One. While lessors have full control over the rental agreement, including rent, Tenants for Turns does require that rentals are for new and active employees, and that leases begin after Oct. 1 for a duration of 16-weeks, including the 2024/25 winter season.
Aspen One does not have a monthly rental rate requirement, but the company strongly recommends that lessors price their units fairly. Starting wages for first-time Aspen One employees are $21 per hour, and many employees arrive with little financial reserves.
Ellen Williams, Aspen One’s assistant public relations manager, said that conversations are held with landlords to ensure equitable housing options. Units that are priced too high, or are further from Aspen than Carbondale, risk being unfilled since most lessors opt to offer affordable options for employees.
“We encourage landlords to consider rent prices before posting units and have conversations around what we deem to be a reasonable rate,” Williams told The Sopris Sun via email. The average rental is between $1,500 and $1,600 per month, but at print time, $900 units in Aspen and Carbondale are still available.
Historically, the Valley’s high cost of living has made it difficult for employees to find housing, and for Aspen One to retain consistent seasonal employees. In order for the company to be fully operational during the winter season, it became critical to secure housing.
“At Aspen One we don’t just want to house employees. We want to ensure stable and financially attainable housing,” said Williams. “Tenants for Turns allows just that and means we can push to be fully staffed and have greater retention of employees because they have this great place to live. We’ve seen a tremendous positive impact.”
Nearly a decade ago, a similar program was discussed within the company, but it garnered little traction, according to Heather Henry, Aspen One’s vice president of housing and childcare. However, since 2020, the need for affordable housing became apparent as the housing crisis worsened. When the program was re-pitched, it was immediately swept up, and has developed into a “comprehensive housing initiative” where everyone benefits.
“Now the program is a huge hit,” said Henry. “It goes to show the level of need in the Valley and also that the community is ready and willing to be a hands-on part of the housing solution. We love that about this amazing valley.”
The program is an overall win for everyone; landlords fill empty units and receive a generous incentive, seasonal employee retention is high and overall employee satisfaction has also increased. Most of all, however, Williams has noticed a growing sense of community between all parties involved. Lessors are proud to “help tackle the larger housing issue,” and tenants feel a sense of “stability, community building, and belonging” as a result of the program, Henry said. The tenants and landlords often establish long-term relationships, and decide to continue the rental agreement, either year-round or for the next winter season.
“The biggest impact we’ve seen thus far is the program has fostered a sense of community among employees and residents, leading to stronger social ties and networks, making Aspen One an even more attractive employer,” Williams affirmed.
Enrollment with the Tenants for Turns program is in high demand, and applications are filling fast. Visit aspen.com/careers-tenants-for-turns to learn more about the program, landlord qualifications and tenant expectations.
