An introduction from the Valley Housing Fund’s new Development Director 

Hello! I am thrilled to be part of the VHF team and community. Your commitment to finding solutions to our valley’s housing challenges is remarkable and I am so glad I will be joining you in these efforts. Whether you are a board member of VHF, a donor, a volunteer or simply interested in the work of the organization, I want to say thanks for all you are doing in the valley to support housing. I have lived in the Gunnison Valley for 18 years and I can’t imagine a better place to raise my incredible 15 year old daughter. I love to mountain bike at Hartman’s, take my dog Kolbe to the Gunnison River, weight lift in my home gym, and I teach a spin class at the Gunnison Rec Center (Tues. and Thurs. at noon- come join me!) 

I bring nearly 25 years of nonprofit management, communications and development experience to my new role, and for the last 12 years have worked on water and public lands conservation policy. In 2020-21 I helped build a new, nature-based early childhood center for the valley called Wonderland Nature School. As a founder of the school, I saw the extreme measures working families are having to take to secure housing and childcare. In my four years as a Gunnison County Planning Commissioner, I became acutely aware of the housing crisis our valley faces. I am a fierce advocate for programs that support working families and community members that we all call our friends and neighbors. That is what makes this valley so special- we care about each other and we understand how hard it can be to live and work here. 

As I have been onboarding with VHF’s Executive Director Lauren Koelliker, I can see that there are so many people who care about affordable housing in this valley. VHF is committed to creating spaces for critical conversations about housing, providing funding for projects and advocating for affordable housing as a community priority. We have an incredible opportunity in this valley, with several recent successful housing projects having come on line recently and more in the planning stages, to provide a place to live for locals who make our community what it is. Our locals are your child’s teacher, or the police officer keeping your town safe. They are the lift operators and the people working in the grocery store. Which is why our goals at VHF are to support community housing across the valley, as well as provide honest, accurate and helpful information about housing. We are here to support housing projects and get people into homes that they can call their own, and as a nonprofit we can’t do that without your support. 

We are busy planning events for this summer and fall, so stay tuned through our newsletter and website for opportunities to learn more and show your support for community housing in our valley.

I hope to see you out in the community soon!
Molly Mugglestone