Ouray’s affordable housing issues aren’t new, but they came into the spotlight more than ever before in 2021 as locals clamored for changes amid climbing prices and limited availability.

The city honed in on shortterm rentals as part of the problem, began allowing local workers to camp on private property and created a fund for future housing efforts. Local businesses, who were struggling to find or retain employees because of the housing shortage, also took matters into their own hands: four...