Gunnison Sanctuary Housing (GSH) is a relatively new non-profit in the Valley. Our primary purpose is to provide safe, affordable housing for sober living and to show people in recovery our love and support. While many of us face challenges in finding affordable housing, individuals in the early stages of recovery can face even greater difficulties due to the negative impacts of their substance use disorder (SUD) like eviction, poor credit, rental references, criminal history, and low to no income. And returning to a living situation where substance use is common can jeopardize their sobriety. On the other hand, a recovery-supportive environment is one of the major factors in successful SUD recovery, providing social connections that deter relapse. In January 2024, GSH bought and opened a 6 bedroom/2 bath home that is currently the only sober living environment in Gunnison Valley. We are asking our community for help in raising the funds needed to build a 3rd bathroom in a large utility/storage room in the basement. This will make the home much more functional for 8 residents, reducing the time conflicts to shower, use the toilet, and prepare for their day or for bed. This project is about far more than simply adding a bathroom to this home. The residents take great pride in it , and we want them to feel supported and cared for by the whole Gunnison Valley community. We want them to see this home as a safe, supportive, comfortable place where they can live out their recovery journey, without relapse, leading them to live a self-fulfilled, self-sufficient life here.
The new Healthy Communities Center is extremely excited to soon begin offering programs and events for the 55 and older community members of Gunnison Valley, particularly those living in the upper valley. It has been decades since there was a senior center in Crested Butte. There is a large population of people who have already shown interest in having this center. We hope to eventually offer a variety of programs to fit the needs of many of the citizens in the valley including games like bridge, mahjong, and canasta; recreation like Nordic Skiing, hikes and walks in the area, yoga classes, gentle stretching classes, and pickleball lessons; arts and crafts including painting, pottery classes, knitting, and weaving; educational offerings like lectures, guest authors, book club, and film club; and particularly social events like free luncheons or dance lessons. The sky is the limit as to what can be offered!! With so many talented and creative people in the valley anything is possible. The Center strives to help community members thrive physically, mentally and emotionally.
The Pavilion Dance Series is a nine-week event hosted at the Three Rivers Resort in Almont, CO. Every Wednesday night through the summer, the Pavilion doors swing open at 6 p.m. for one hour of dance lessons followed by live music. A supergroup of local musicians play swing, country, Latin, two-step, flat-footing and square dance. This is an all-ages and family-friendly event. Although there are many live music events in the Gunnison Valley year-round, there is a need for community events that don't center around substance use. Music and dancing have been identified as activities that would engage our community more broadly. This event also revives and celebrates a Gunnison Valley tradition from over 100 years ago. The Pavilion in Almont was originally built in 1921 as a dance hall, and it drew dancers and musicians together from diverse ethnic backgrounds. Our project is a collaboration among the Gunnison Valley Music Association, the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Program and Grasp (consortium dedicated to prevention, treatment and recovery of substance misuse across the lifespan), and also Three Rivers Resort in Almont. Please help us keep this and future Dance Series events free to the community!
