Organized by Crestone Peak Community Housing
Crestone Seniors Desperate for Homes
With your help, Crestone Peak Community Housing (CPCH) 501(c)3 will be able to build Living Wisdom Village in 2023. LWV will include 20 homes and a community center for seniors with low to very low income. There are currently 50 people on the waitlist for the 20 homes, mostly single women who depend solely on social security income, some of whom are in transient situations. Barbara was the visionary for LWV and was very excited about moving to the village; unfortunately, she passed away in early 2022. Marta is currently on the waitlist. Please listen to their stories:
Seniors are Critical to Community Vitality
Crestone, Colorado is a small rural community tucked up against the Sangre de Cristo mountains in Saguache County, one of the poorest counties in the state. Affordable housing, especially for elders, is desperately needed. Many in Crestone have deep roots in the community. They yearn for the security of aging in place, but a lack of affordable housing forces many to move away from their friends and connections. Seniors also provide most of the volunteer services in the community; their wealth of knowledge, experience, and availability is key to operating ongoing programs, developing more effective services, and solving problems in the community. Having to leave the place they call home is a painful blow to seniors and a loss of human resources for the community.
Environmental and Social Responsibility
Living Wisdom Village is a model for sustainable building; a key goal is to build LWV in an environmentally and socially responsible manner. The CPCH board has chosen to develop housing with indieDwell, who provides modular, affordable housing solutions that are energy-efficient, sustainable, healthy, and durable; this housing can be built and placed in 3-4 months. The homes are finished with all appliances, cabinetry, fixtures, and HVAC, making them turn-key ready for residency. This construction approach allows for the rapid creation of quality affordable housing, which can be easily replicated in other rural communities.
We are almost there - Help Close the Gap
Local donations and charitable foundation grants have allowed us to purchase land in town and complete an extensive design phase. CPCH is now working to acquire sufficient funds to construct the homes. Colorado Division of Housing will be a primary funder and deems this project as an important model for future affordable housing projects in the state. We are fundraising to fill the gap between the financial support we will receive from the State and charitable foundations, and the amount of long-term financing the project can sustain. There are few foundations that provide grants for capital projects.
CPCH is seeking $100K out of a total gap of $300K through GoFundMe. If we cannot raise these funds, the project will be delayed another year (and worse, another winter!), and current funding commitments may be withdrawn. Colorado taxpayers who donate at least $100 qualify for a 25% tax credit through the Enterprise Zone program.
Thank you so much for your financial support of this innovative housing solution that will enable seniors to age in place, safely and with dignity, at rental costs they can afford. More information about Living Wisdom Village can be found on our website.
Please share this link and help spread the word about this much-needed project!
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