Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley

Help Build Homes, Hope & Humanity in Eagle County 

For me, Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley is about two things: Spirit and Legacy. The spirit of homeownership is what catches our attention. Our legacy is how we choose to invest in that spirit — how we show up for our neighbors, our workforce, and our community. 

Twelve years ago, John and Maya Castillo moved into their Habitat home after years of instability and worry. They spent too long bouncing between rentals, trying to balance safety and affordability while suppressing dreams of something better. Today, they are thriving — owning their own catering business, active in their church, raising five wonderful children, and generously giving back as mentors to future Habitat families. 

John often says a Habitat home is far more than four walls. It is a safe space, an opportunity, a future, and hope. That is the Habitat spirit. 

In Eagle County, home is becoming impossibly out of reach. Last year, out of 1,566 home sales, only 25 were under $500,000. Teachers, early childhood educators, police officers, paramedics, court clerks, nonprofit workers, masons, plumbers — the very people who hold this community together — simply can’t afford to stay. 

Habitat Vail Valley is changing that. And we’re doing it boldly. 

• 100 homes were built here between 1995 and 2021.
• 46 more were completed in just the last three years.
• By 2028, up to 71 more families will put down roots— starting with 30 homes under construction right now.

We’ve proven that when someone says, “There’s no land,” we build partnerships. When someone says, “Affordable homeownership doesn’t belong here,” we show what’s possible. We do not lean into fear — we remove it. We don’t take “no” for an answer — we build the reasons to say “yes.” 

Families like Lula and her sons, who slept on the floor of an RV because it was all she could afford. She works full-time supporting local children in Head Start. She thought she’d have to leave this valley — until Habitat gave her the chance to stay, to breathe, to hope, and to build stability for her boys. 

Families like the Castillos, and the 245 applicants who reached out this year because they believe in a future here. 

A Habitat home transforms lives. It creates financial flexibility, improves mental health, stabilizes families, and strengthens our entire local economy. 

And most importantly: homeownership does not discriminate. All people deserve humanity, dignity, and a safe place to belong. 

Every dollar you give helps Habitat: 

• Build more affordable homes — faster and smarter
• Partner with hardworking locals who are the backbone of Eagle County
• Ensure teachers, first responders, health care workers, and service workers can remain here
• Create stable futures for children who deserve security and opportunity

This isn’t charity. It’s community. It’s humanity. It’s the legacy we choose. 

I believe deeply in the power of Habitat’s work — and in the spirit that guides it. I’m asking you to join me in supporting Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley so we can continue building homes, hope, and a brighter future for the community we all love. 

Your gift today doesn’t just build a house. It builds stability. It builds dignity. It builds a legacy.