As Wyoming Housing Network (WHN) celebrates its 20th anniversary, the organization reflects on two decades of service to communities across the state. Founded in 2005, WHN is a statewide nonprofit with a mission to strengthen Wyoming communities by providing quality resources and opportunities for people to reach their housing goals.
A Legacy of Affordable Housing
Over the past 20 years, WHN has played a crucial role in expanding access to affordable rental housing. With 14 properties located in cities such as Cheyenne, Powell, Casper, Cody, Guernsey, Riverton, Torrington and Wheatland, WHN provides safe, affordable homes for hundreds of Wyoming residents. These properties are the result of strong partnerships with local communities and are part of WHN’s ongoing effort to meet the state’s growing housing needs.
The organization’s most recent project, Robins’ Point in Cheyenne, is a 48-unit multi-family affordable housing complex currently under construction. As WHN continues to look ahead, it actively seeks new partnerships with Wyoming communities to develop additional affordable and permanent supportive housing projects — ensuring that all residents have access to stable, quality homes.
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Comprehensive Housing Counseling for Every Stage
WHN’s impact extends beyond bricks and mortar. Through its robust housing counseling program, WHN empowers individuals and families to navigate their housing and financial journeys with confidence. Most services are offered at no cost, ensuring they are accessible to all.
“As counselors, our goal is to equip Wyoming families with the tools they need to succeed in their housing journey,” says Manuela Ortiz, the housing counseling manager for WHN. “We are honored that they’ve chosen us to help guide them and answer their questions.” With decades of experience as a team, WHN loves to help guide residents in their home buying and give them the tools to financial success that isn’t limited to homeownership.
The services WHN counseling includes:
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Homebuyer Education – Helping prospective buyers understand the homeownership process and prepare for long-term success.
Financial Capabilities Coaching – Supporting residents in managing money, building credit and achieving financial stability.
Rental Counseling – Assisting renters with budgeting, lease understanding and tenant rights.
Foreclosure Counseling – Offering support to homeowners facing hardship and exploring solutions to keep them in their homes.
Reverse Mortgage Counseling – Helping seniors make informed decisions about reverse mortgage options.
WHN’s counselors provide personalized guidance to help residents make informed, empowered decisions about their housing and finances. One participant noted, “The counselor was very knowledgeable and easy to work with. Super helpful when I had questions and understood our concerns when we expressed them. I definitely feel that this information will be helpful to my husband and myself as we adjust to being homeowners instead of lifelong renters.”
Looking Toward the Future
As WHN commemorates 20 years of service, the organization remains deeply committed to its mission. Looking forward, WHN plans to continue expanding homeownership opportunities, increasing the availability of affordable rental housing and offering comprehensive counseling and education services.
The celebration of this milestone is not just a look back, but a reaffirmation of WHN’s vision: a Wyoming where everyone has access to a safe, affordable and sustainable place to call home. For more information about WHN’s housing developments or counseling services, visit www.whninc.org. Whether you’re looking for a home, facing financial hardship or planning for the future, WHN is here to help — every step of the way.
PAID FOR BY WYOMING HOUSING NETWORK This article is a promoted post. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the organization that paid for the article, and do not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts or opinions of Oil City News, its employees or its publisher. Please fill out this form if you would like to speak to our sales department about advertising opportunities on Oil City News.
Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails has officially released a Request for Proposal (RFP) for professional appraisal services to evaluate concession facilities at Hot Springs State Park in Thermopolis, Wyoming.
These appraisals are mandated by 2026 Senate Enrolled Act 27, Section 335, which requires appraisals of the “capital investment” and “ongoing concern” for the businesses known as the Star Plunge and the Hot Springs Hotel and Spa.
Qualified professional appraisers are encouraged to review the full requirements. Proposals must be submitted through the State’s Public Purchase online bidding system by 2:00 p.m., May 18, 2026. To view the full RFP (Number 0270-M), please visit https://www.publicpurchase.com/gems/wyominggsd,wy/buyer/public/home.
For additional information, contact Wyoming State Parks’ Visitor Services Manager Stephanie Dillmon at (307) 777-5734 or by email at Stephanie.Dillmon2@wyo.gov or learn more about Wyoming State Parks at wyoparks.wyo.gov.
When a clinic closes in Wyoming, it doesn’t just close a door; it can cut off access to care for entire communities.
For many residents, getting to a health care provider already means traveling long distances across multiple counties, and local clinics are often the only nearby option for basic health care. With one Title X Family Planning clinic in western Wyoming now closed, the challenge is becoming even more real for many people.
Reproductive and sexual health care is a key part of overall health, but it’s often one of the first services people lose access to when clinics close. Title X Family Planning is a federal program that helps people get essential preventive care, no matter their income. These clinics offer services like birth control, cancer screenings, STI and HIV testing, and care before pregnancy. They help people stay healthy, catch problems early, and plan for their futures.
The need is real. Wyoming’s Title X Family Planning network remains a critical part of the state’s health care system, helping bridge gaps in both access and affordability. With 9 clinics currently serving communities across the state, these providers cared for nearly 12,000 patients through more than 28,000 visits between 2022 and 2025. For many, these clinics are their only source of care: 49% of patients were uninsured, and nearly half were living at or below the federal poverty level.
In a state where distance and cost can both be barriers, affordable care is essential. About 14.6% of Wyoming women ages 19–44 are uninsured, higher than the national average. Title X clinics help meet this need by offering low- or no-cost care, while also connecting patients to referrals and additional health services when needed, ensuring more individuals can get the care they deserve.
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These clinics are also on the front lines of prevention. In recent years, they delivered more than 3,100 cervical cancer screenings and about 20,000 STI and HIV tests. Services like these support early detection and treatment, helping reduce the need for more serious and costly care down the line.
In rural states like Wyoming, once a clinic closes, it is very hard to bring it back. These clinics are more than buildings; they are part of the local health care system that keeps communities healthy.
The good news is that Title X Family Planning clinics are still open, working every day to serve their communities. The Wyoming Health Council supports this network of clinics and works to ensure that people across the state can access the care they need. Through partnerships, education, and community-based programs, the organization helps connect Wyoming residents to reproductive and sexual health services, no matter where they live.
In a state where distance, cost, and provider shortages all play a role, these clinics, and the work supporting them, are more than just a convenience. They are a lifeline.
To help sustain this work and protect access to care across Wyoming, consider making a donation to the Wyoming Health Council.
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Donation Link: givebutter.com/WYTitleX
Required Federal Funding statement: This project is supported by the Office of Populations Affairs (OPA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health (OASH) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award 1 FPHPA 006541-0-00 totaling $978,380 with 100 percent funded by OPA/OASH/HHS. The contents are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by OPA/OASH/HHS or the U.S. Government.
PAID FOR BY WYOMING HEALTH COUNCIL This article is a promoted post. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the organization that paid for the article, and do not necessarily reflect the views, thoughts or opinions of Oil City News, its employees or its publisher. Please fill out this form if you would like to speak to our sales department about advertising opportunities on Oil City News.
CASPER, Wyo. — The Casper City Council voted Tuesday to approve on first reading a zoning change for a vacant 2.4-acre parcel located at 1530 SE Wyoming Boulevard, transitioning the property from residential to commercial use.
The ordinance reclassifies Lot 4 of the Methodist Church Addition from Residential Estate to General Business. Located between East 15th and East 18th streets, the irregular-shaped property has remained undeveloped since it was first platted in 1984.
While original plans for the subdivision envisioned a church and an associated preschool, Community Development Director Liz Becher reported those projects never materialized.
According to Becher, the applicant sought the rezoning to facilitate the potential installation of a cell tower or an off-premises sign. Under the new C-2 designation, a cell tower up to 130 feet in height is considered a permitted use by right, though any off-premises sign would still require a conditional use permit from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The applicant also owns the adjacent lot to the north, which the city rezoned to general business in 2021.
Becher said the change aligns with the “Employment Mixed Use” classification in the Generation Casper comprehensive land use plan. This designation typically supports civic, institutional and employment spaces.
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Despite the new zoning, the property remains subject to a subdivision agreement that limits traffic access. Entry and exit are restricted to right turns onto or from East 15th Street, and no access is permitted from East 18th Street.
The council will vote on two more readings of the ordinance before it is officially ratified.
