try to find a place to live in Chama as well

We recently stayed in Chama for a few nights. The hotel manager lamented that it was hard to get help, not because of the pandemic hangover, but mostly due to lack of reasonable (meaning low cost) housing for workers. No significant new housing has been built, so existing rental rates are very high. Too high for most that have lower income jobs to afford, so they move away to bigger cities with more options. There is no short term solution to this. Higher wages mean higher menu prices, which makes folks mad. Some type of community housing, like Vail and Aspen or other ski resorts have had to supply, might help, but who can fund this in Chama? In the long term a shortage of housing will mean higher prices for everything.

A side note. The local Chama Dollar store is now closed due to vandalism, shop lifting and other issues. It is partially boarded up and the locals say corporate will not reopen. Another sign of the times..?