August 2026

ShelterJH candidates win the primary!

We started this season with our educational outreach via our Election Block Party (good, rainy times!), forum, and published questionnaire. Then, we spent hours interviewing candidates and making sure we conducted the most in-depth, comprehensive evaluation possible for our endorsements. We came together, reached consensus, and executed a strategic Get Out the Vote effort with many volunteers.

When we organize, we win: all of our endorsed/recommended candidates for the contested County Commission primary race will advance to the general election. Thanks for staying engaged, supporting our work, volunteering, and most of all—voting! Interested in getting involved with our upcoming general election work? Sign up here.

Candidate speed dating

Join us for “Candi-dating” on September 14 and spend quality time with your local Town, County, and House District 23 candidates. Ask them about what’s on your mind: rent prices? Property tax reform? The Virginian? Let them know what you care about.

Take the time to get to know your candidates now so you’ll feel prepared to vote come November 3. See you soon!

It’s Old Bill’s season!

It’s that time of year here in Jackson Hole—Old Bill’s season! This annual event put on by the Community Foundation is a huge opportunity for nonprofits to fundraise and have tax-deductible donations matched by generous co-challengers. Because of supporters like you, we have the opportunity to fuel our 501(c)3 nonpartisan educational outreach so locals have access to the housing resources available in Teton County. Please consider supporting ShelterJH’s educational work during Old Bill’s this year. 

April Norton resigns

We extend our sincere appreciation to Housing Director April Norton, who has submitted her resignation from the Jackson/Teton County Affordable Housing Department. April’s dedication to locals and commitment to collaboration has resulted in hundreds of deed-restricted homes that we enjoy today, including those at the Jackson Street Apartments, Flat Creek Apartments, the Mercill condos, and many, many more. We look forward to seeing what is next for her and hope the electeds will find someone as passionate, creative, and diligent as April to lead this important work for our community.

Thank you, Whitney!

We are SO proud, fortunate, and grateful to have had Whitney Oppenhuizen on our board for the past 4.5 years. ⁠

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Whitney has brought immense experience, dedication, and passion to her role as a board member, most recently as Vice Chair. Her experience with development and as a member of the Housing Supply Board has deeply benefitted the local pro-homes movement and helped grow ShelterJH from a nascent organization to a group that launched a statewide nonprofit last year.⁠

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We will miss you—and our endless gratitude for all you have done and will continue to do for locals, Whitney!⁠

Habitat welcomes last group of residents to Parkside

Congratulations to all of the new Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Teton Area homeowners who moved into the Parkside development! It’s inspiring to see what can happen when public funding and private philanthropy come together. Huge thanks to all of the donors, public officials, Habitat staff, public/private housing board members, housing advocates, and everyone else who made this neighborhood possible.⁠

Hot Topics in Housing

ShelterJH members share relevant media pieces with one another through our Google Group. Here are what our conversations have been about this month: