For more than five decades, Mountain Valley Developmental Services (MVDS) has provided support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Garfield, Pitkin, Eagle, and Lake Counties in Colorado. Since its founding in 1973, the organization has helped people achieve greater independence through learning, work opportunities, and residential programs.
MVDS recently received a $25,000 Community Giving Grant from Black Hills Energy to assist with 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 enhance comfort, safety, and quality of life for residents living in MVDS housing.
The first phase of the Cozy Home Project is underway at Oakhurst House in Glenwood Springs. Built in 1974, Oakhurst is the oldest of MVDS’s ten group homes and provides housing for adults who depend on stable and supportive environments. With the funding from Black Hills Energy, MVDS plans to replace 18 single-pane windows with new annealed Low-E glass windows that reflect heat and increase energy efficiency. These improvements are expected to make the home more sustainable and comfortable for its residents.
“I wouldn’t say that raising money to maintain houses is necessarily the flashiest, but it’s necessary,” said Maura Masters, MVDS Developmental Director. “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 is part of MVDS’s broader commitment to serving people throughout their lives—offering early intervention services for children as well as skill-building and employment programs for adults. The organization partners with over 50 businesses across the valley to connect individuals with meaningful jobs and foster workplace inclusion.
Additional support for the Cozy Home Project comes from organizations such as Clear Energy Economy for the Region, Rotary Club of Glenwood Springs, and Defiance Thrift Stores.
At its core, organizers say the Cozy Home Project represents more than just physical improvements or increased energy efficiency; it reflects a community effort to help individuals with disabilities live comfortably and confidently in their homes.
Community involvement remains central to MVDS’s mission. As noted by those involved in the project, Black Hills Energy expresses pride in supporting efforts like these that strengthen local communities.
