Cheyenne’s new affordable housing complex brings hope and homes to low-income families

CHEYENNE — For local leaders and housing advocates, the newly opened Robin’s Point Apartments represents more than just new affordable units.  It stands as a symbol of hope, stability and community for low-income families across Cheyenne.

Robin’s Point, located at 3300 E. Nationway, is a 48-unit affordable housing community with a mix of one-, two and three-bedroom apartments.

The property is the result of a collaboration between the Wyoming Housing Network, Wyoming Community Development Authority and CR Builders, a company based in Montana that develops quality, affordable housing in multiple states.

Melissa Noah, director of WHN, said Robin’s Point is part of the low-income housing tax credit, which is a project administered by WCDA through the Internal Revenue Service.

The property is located near many amenities, such as Henderson Elementary School, the Cheyenne Plaza Shopping Center, medical facilities, restaurants and stores, which Noah said was important when planning the complex’s design because low-income families tend to have additional struggles when it comes to things like transportation.

Noah said another important aspect WHN, CR Builders and WCDA kept in mind when planning the complex was for it to be “beautifully built” and modern, because there’s often a misconception that low-income means low-grade.

“We want people to feel proud of where they live,” Noah said. “That is a win for us, as well. I think people have perceptions about what affordable housing and low-income housing is, and (Robin’s Point) is not that perception.”

Costs of each unit depend on a resident’s yearly income, said Dianne Hunt, president of Syringa Property Management. To be eligible to live at Robin’s Point, an applicant must make 60% or less of the area’s median income. Rent prices can be no more than 30% of a resident’s annual income.

“The rents are based on whatever that income limit is on a federal formula,” Hunt said. “So basically, 30% of that monthly income would be the rent. That’s gross rent that includes utilities, as well as their rent portion. Then we deduct the utility allowance from that, and the tenants pay the difference.”

Hunt said applicants can also use Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, which is the federal government’s primary program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly and the disabled to afford quality housing, according to the Cheyenne Housing Authority website.

Don Sterhan, president of CR Builders, said funding for the apartment complex came from many different places, with $11 million from the federal tax credit, $2 million from the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, $2 million from the Housing Trust Fund, $150,000 from the city of Cheyenne and $275,000 as a permanent mortgage from the Rocky Mountain Community Reinvestment Corp.

While the money came from many official sources, Gov. Mark Gordon emphasized that projects like this cannot become a reality with money alone.

“These things don’t just come out of the ground on their own,” Gordon said. “They come out of the ground because the community comes together.”

Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins said the biggest challenge many communities face is affordable housing and a lack of housing, in general. He noted that creating more affordable housing in Cheyenne is one of his top goals.

“Robin’s Point, that’s the solution,” Collins said. “That’s how we’re going to fix this problem. And understanding the details of the public-private partnerships required to build affordable housing is a challenge. … Robin’s Point is a great example of this process.”

Everyone who was involved in the project said Robin’s Point will serve as a reminder of the broader purpose behind affordable housing efforts for many years to come.

“The idea that a challenge builds endurance, and endurance builds character, and character builds hope is really what projects like Robin’s Point are all about,” Noah said. “And in this case, for our affordable housing development and our low-income communities, that’s really what home is. It’s hope of stability. It’s hope of neighbors. It’s hope of community.”

This story was published on Oct. 15, 2025.