It wasn’t easy for Kendall Hill to focus on her long-term career prospects with the company while living in a cramped travel trailer in Bagdad.
But now the future looks much more appealing for Hill, Engineering Specialist I, since she recently moved into a new studio apartment, one of the 128 affordable units the company is building to help deal with the shortage of housing in the area.
“I’m definitely much happier,” said Hill, who spent more than a year living in a recreational vehicle park in town. “It’s definitely affected my quality of life. Now living in an apartment, I feel much more normalcy. It’s a home to me.”
Hill’s unit is one of 64 studio apartments opened this year at Bagdad, with another 64 expected within the month.
Securing affordable housing for employees at remote sites is an ongoing challenge, said William Brown, Senior Director-Global Supply Chain Category Management. “It directly influences our ability to attract and retain employees.”
Unique challenges, unique solutions
To deal with the issue, Freeport is adding 162 housing units for employees in Bagdad and 133 housing units to support workers at Climax and Henderson in Colorado. Those housing options range from cabins in the woods to studios and multi-bedroom apartments.
The challenges at each location are unique and require targeted solutions, said Tiffany Gifford, Senior Director-Compensation and Benefits. For instance, the problem is being addressed in Morenci through a housing stipend and company-sponsored van pools to ease the burden of commuting long distances.
“In Morenci, limited housing availability, long commutes, and cost of rents are impacting employee retention, hindering our ability to attract and retain our workforce, and ultimately affecting our productivity,” Gifford said. “Introducing this new housing allowance for Morenci employees who do not reside in company housing should help retain employees while also attracting new talent to our workforce.”
New options in Bagdad
In Bagdad, the Bridle Creek Apartment complex accounts for the bulk of new housing. Construction started a year ago, with 64 of 128 studio apartments available since July and the rest were recently completed. Another 34 units are being added through Boxabl Casitas, factory-built homes that can be set up in place.
The two complexes will add 162 units to Bagdad’s housing stock. About 86 people are on a waiting list for one-bedroom housing, with employees having the right of first refusal on a first-come, first-served basis. All new units in Bagdad are studios, which are in high demand with over 75 units already being leased. To address the shortage of multi-bedroom homes, families renting larger homes have been offered a $10,000 one-time incentive to downsize.
Affordable options in Colorado
In Leadville, 55 studio apartments are being added through the conversion of the Silver King Inn, expected to be finished in November. For Henderson employees, the company has a five-year master lease on 11 cabins and will add 21 more this month. The company will continue work with local communities to identify alternative housing options for Colorado employees in the next two years.
“Company leaders have made a huge investment in solving this problem,” said Pam Masson, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer. “It’s a great thing they’ve done for the employees, and there’s a lot of relief out there already.”
The housing initiative aligns with the company’s value statement “Proudly Creating Better Futures,” underscoring its commitment to employee well-being.
“By prioritizing affordable and accessible housing, the company addresses a fundamental employee need and reinforces its long-term strategic objectives,” Masson said. “There’s a human element to all of this, and the company has really focused on that.”