For over five decades, Mountain Valley Developmental Services (MVDS) has worked to create inclusive communities in Colorado’s Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, and Lake Counties. Since 1973, MVDS has provided support for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities as they pursue independent lives.
MVDS recently received a $25,000 Community Giving Grant from Black Hills Energy to fund the Cozy Home Project. “We are so excited to be receiving this grant award from Black Hills Energy,” said MVDS Executive Director Sara Sims. The project aims to improve comfort, safety, and quality of life for residents in MVDS housing.
The first phase of the project will focus on the Oakhurst House in Glenwood Springs, which is the oldest of MVDS’s ten group homes. Built in 1974, Oakhurst houses adults who depend on MVDS for stable living environments. With help from Black Hills Energy, MVDS plans to replace 18 single-pane windows with new Low-E glass windows that reflect heat and enhance energy efficiency. These improvements are expected to make the home more sustainable and increase comfort for its residents.
“I wouldn’t say that raising money to maintain houses is necessarily the flashiest, but it’s necessary,” said MVDS Developmental Director Maura Masters. “How we measure that is by our participants’ smiling faces and their ability to live at ease in their homes, so Cozy Home will spruce up the different places they live.”
The Cozy Home Project highlights MVDS’s broader efforts across residential enrichment programs as well as employment and early intervention services for both children and adults with disabilities.
In addition to support from Black Hills Energy, other organizations such as Clear Energy Economy for the Region, Rotary Club of Glenwood Springs, and Defiance Thrift Stores have contributed to the Cozy Home Project. MVDS also partners with over 50 businesses in the area to connect individuals with employment opportunities and promote inclusion within local workplaces.
At its core, the Cozy Home Project aims not only at improving housing conditions but also at fostering community involvement so individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities can live confidently in their homes.
“Community support, involvement and shared responsibility are key to MVDS’s mission, and Black Hills Energy is proud to be a part of making the Cozy Home Project a success.”
