Denver Catholic

4 MARCH 7-13, 2015 | DENVER CATHOLIC In-Depth Cover T wenty years ago, on Thanksgiving Day, then Archbishop J. Francis Sta" ord of Denver put forth his position on the housing crisis that was taking place in the areas surrounding Vail, Aspen and other resort areas on the Western Slope in a pastoral letter titled "The Heights of the Mountains Are His." The economic boom of the 80s had sent real estate property values and rents soaring into a stratosphere that left lift operators, bar and restaurant servers, shop attendants and other workers out in the cold, some quite literally. There were reports of people living in tents and cars through the winter or commut- ing 100 miles round trip in all weather conditions. Not surprisingly, employers found it di£ cult to pay a" ordable wages and retain workers. At that time, the average home price in Aspen was $1.2 million, and two-thirds of all workers held service industry jobs that paid between $8-$9 an hour. The arch- bishop of Denver warned in his pastoral letter that the Western Slope was at risk of becoming "a theme-park 'alternative reality' for those who have the money to purchase entrance," and that around it would "sprawl a growing bu" er zone of the working poor." In 2015, the fruits of the archbishop's letter and the work of Archdiocesan Housing, an a£ liate of Catholic Charities, can be seen as one of many driving forces that has spurred a number of a" ordable housing projects from Glenwood Springs to Summit County. The latest housing project opened last May in Silverthorne, in the heart of Summit County and home to four ski resorts. The fi rst phase of the 64-unit Villa Sierra Madre II complex opened in February 2014. Like its predecessor, 61-unit Villa Sierra Madre that opened in the 1990s, the new complex has one-, two- and three-bedroom units, and rent prices are on a sliding scale for residents of Summit County with 40-60 percent area median income. Cathy Vannerson, director of Arch- diocesan Housing, is excited about the completion of the new project. "If people are provided a decent home they are better employees because they have a sense of pride," she told Denver Catholic. Vannerson also pointed out the sup- port and collaboration of the city of Silverthorne. They contributed $350,000 for the building of a park space at the new complex. The park is accessible from the homes and is also open to the public. Gloria Perez and her family have been residents of the Villa Sierra Madre for two years. They fi rst moved in to the original complex and then later into an apartment in the new phase. It had previously been necessary for Perez and her husband to both work full time jobs in order to make ends meet. "I am so grateful that now my chil- dren don't come home to an empty h o u s e , " s h e s a i d . "Because we live here (at Villa Sierra Madre), I am there to welcome them home from school, feed them and help them with their schoolwork." Her husband works in construction around Summit County, which keeps him close to home and able to spend more time with the family. Eleven months after getting a job at a law fi rm in the city of Dillion, Caroline Aponte was still commuting over 37 miles to work each way from the town of Krem- mling: "It took 45 minutes if the weather was nice. Now my o£ ce is just 4 minutes down the road." Aponte, originally hailing from New York City, moved into her new home in mid-July. "The single level fl oor plan is great for my 3-year-old, and the management here does a great job keeping the area very clean and safe," she said. Archdiocesan Housing also manages Villas de Santa Lucia in Carbondale and Holy Cross Village in Gypsum, which were built on the core values and basic principals that all persons should be treated with dignity, have an opportunity to obtain a" ordable housing, and have a sense of home and hope. Cathy Vannerson told Denver Catho- lic that the Breckenridge City Council has approached Archdiocesan Housing seeking to partner on another possible affordable housing development. She attributes the interest to better com- munication and the ability to now show the successful track record of their occupants. Villa Sierra Madre I still has residents from the time of its opening in 1994. These families have proven to be committed and contributing members of the community. While the low turnover rates are pos- itive indicators of the permanence of the residents and their dedication to the area, the increasingly long waiting lists indicate that there are still more in need and still more work to be done. As it is so often with words rooted in truth, those of Archbishop Sta" ord writ- ten 20 years ago still ring true today: "On the Western Slope, we have arrived at a crossroads. We must choose a path into the future guided by prudence, justice and a reverence for both human dignity and for nature." Building communities on the Western Slope BY DANIEL BARELA Every economic venture must attempt to ensure the spiritual dignity of all persons whom it will a• ect, and the proper identity of each community where it takes root. Land development which displaces the poor or buys out the elderly without due concern for their subsequent human needs is not 'development'; it may build houses, but it destroys communities."† CARDINAL J. FRANCIS STAFFORD " Caroline Aponte now only drives four minutes to and from work, which means she can spend more time with her 3-year-old. PHOTO PROVIDED Gloria Perez is grateful for Sierra Madre, because now she can live closer to where she works, which means she can welcome her children home from school, cook dinner for them and help with homework. PHOTO PROVIDED HOUSING Silverthorne, Colorado Villa Sierra Madre Silverthorne, Colorado Villa Sierra Madre II Carbondale, Colorado Villas de Santa Lucia Gypsum, Colorado Holy Cross Village

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