Fostering stability for Archway residents can mean caring for the communities they call home, today and for years to come. We’re proud to introduce you to Jared Harrop, Archway’s Portfolio Capital Manager.
Jared works to make sure residents’ homes are safe and built to last. From improving a building’s energy efficiency to making sure the sidewalks are safe and accessible, he is constantly looking for ways to strengthen our communities and create better living environments for residents.
Q: In your role at Archway, what does ‘making an impact’ look like to you?
A: In the affordable housing space, money is always tight. Yet the cost of maintaining the buildings our residents call home is always increasing. A roof leak may be something that can be fixed quickly and easily, but over time everything degrades – how many ‘quick fixes’ can you put on a thing before there’s just no point anymore? Add in the size of major systems like roofs, walkways, building envelopes, elevators, HVAC and fire suppression and the increasing scope and costs can become prohibitive to large-scale repairs. Making an impact, to me, means I get to take on the role of finding ways and means to ensure those things remain functional, keeping our buildings safe and comfortable places for our residents to live.
Q: Can you share a moment (big or small) when you saw how your work made a difference?
A: There are definitely a lot more small moments than big ones. The nature of the job is such that people only really pay attention to it when it’s not being done well. But every time a project gets completed, I feel a little sense of satisfaction, and it tends to last for a long while – every time I set foot on one of our sites I’m running through a mental checklist of, “Oh, that thing was fixed, this system seems to be functioning okay, what about XYZ? Oh, it’s all good,” and that keeps me going. Both personally and professionally, I know the stress of having to identify and pay for a big-ticket item being replaced, and I’m always happy that our residents don’t have to feel the same.
Q: How does your work advance Archway’s mission?
A: When basic needs like shelter or safety aren’t being met, there’s no way for people to have stable lives or thrive. And while quick fixes can keep a major building system operating in the short term, eventually they will need more extensive repairs or even full replacement. The work done by the capital team fills an important niche between the development of affordable housing and the short term operational fixes that can keep it running, ensuring that major, extensive replacements of important systems occur in a timely fashion to preserve existing affordable homes for those in need.
Q: What’s something people might not realize about the work you do or the role your department plays?
A: There’s a term in creative writing called “the mushy middle.” It’s where a story gets bogged down between the opening that sets up the characters and events to come and the final act that pays off emotionally for the reader. Capex work can get very mushy. We’re squeezed between the relatively clear goals of building a structure and the long haul of maintaining it. We’re always happy to support our Development and Operations teammates, but the lanes aren’t always clearly defined. At a certain level they can’t be. And that’s okay; the important thing is that we’re here, keeping an eye on the bulk of that middle part so that the Dev and Ops teams don’t have to.
Q: What motivates you to do this work, and what keeps you inspired?
A: I think that access to housing should be a right, not a privilege. If I could wave a magic wand and make safe, comfortable, and affordable housing for every human appear, and eliminate the greed that drives some folks to make it not that way, I would. But that’s not possible within our current circumstances. So, I focus instead on aligning with the goals and mission of those who try. Like my role, it’s messy, it’s mushy, it can be stressful and confusing at times, but it’s important, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
By providing a monthly gift to Archway, you help our team ensure that stability isn’t just something residents find when they move in, it’s maintained and protected over time.
If you would like to learn more about how your gift powers stability at Archway, please contact our Director of Communications and Philanthropy, Georgeanne Barrett. Thank you for your support as we continue in our mission of providing access to affordable housing and increasing housing stability across Colorado.
