This week, the Gunnison Valley welcomed a group of rural funders, including representatives from the Gates Family Foundation, Boettcher Foundation, and Colorado Health Foundation, as part of the Colorado Rural Funders Learning Network’s 2024 visit. The visit was an opportunity for funders to learn about the challenges and opportunities facing our region, with a significant focus on addressing the ongoing housing crisis that affects many rural communities like ours. This visit aimed to foster collaboration between funders and local leaders, identifying opportunities for future philanthropic investments that will directly benefit our community.
Highlighting community housing successes and challenges.
On October 1st, funders participated in a Community Housing Tour co-led by representatives from the Community Foundation, Gunnison County, the Valley Housing Fund, Town of CB, Organización de Nuevas Esperanzas (ONE), and GVRHA. The tour visited neighborhoods in the South Valley including Sawtooth, Lazy K, and the Country Meadows Mobile Home Park, showcasing the diverse approaches our community is taking to create affordable housing that meets the needs of local residents, as well as some of the incredible hurdles that we have yet to overcome.
Speakers including Lauren Kugler, CFGV Executive Director, Lauren Koelliker, VHF Executive Director, John Cattles, Assistant County Manager, and several others shared insights into the unique housing solutions our community has implemented, the challenges we continue to face, and the lessons learned along the way.
Collaborating to find creative solutions.
During roundtable discussions, funders and local leaders engaged in meaningful conversations about how to sustain and expand housing progress in the Gunnison Valley. Creative ideas, including live-work models, were explored as a way to diversify opportunities to meet multiple community goals within one project.
VHF President Scott Desmarais participated in a panel debrief alongside Gunnison Valley Health and the Housing Authority, where ongoing efforts to expand affordable housing were discussed in more detail. Some of the topics included:
- the challenge of employers taking on roles as housing providers and landlords
- the shortfall in funding for the Housing Authority that has severely limited its ability to meet housing needs
- affordable housing is not affordable to create, leaving major gaps that can sink a project
The day wrapped up with the One Valley Panel, which connected housing with broader community goals, including mental health and economic resilience.
Looking ahead.
This visit is an exciting step forward in building partnerships to address our housing challenges in the Gunnison Valley. Funders will select their strategic priorities in the coming months based on insights gained from these visits. VHF is proud to have played a role in shaping these discussions and looks forward to the impact that will follow.
Event Organizers & Participants
- Community Foundation of the Gunnison Valley
- The Gunnison County
- Town of Crested Butte
- Town of Mt. Crested Butte
- Philanthropy Colorado
- San Juan Regional Council
- Gunnison Valley Regional Housing Authority
- Gunnison Valley Health
- Gunnison Arts Center
- Western Colorado University (WCU)
- Gunnison County Public Library
- Gunnison/Hinsdale Health & Human Services
- Town of Lake City
- Hinsdale County
Rural Funders
- Beacon Fund
- Boettcher Foundation
- Buell Foundation
- The Colorado Health Foundation
- The Colorado Trust
- Community Foundation of Gunnison Valley
- DOLA – Community Dev’t and Housing
- Donnell-Kay Foundation
- El Pomar Foundation
- Gates Family Foundation
- Grand Foundation
- Philanthropy Colorado
- Rocky Mountain Health Foundation
- Zoma Foundation of Colorado