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David Nestor nominated for housing award
By Robb Lapp

David Nestor, a member of Lakewood United Church, received the “Eagle Award” from Colorado Housing Now, at a conference held in Breckenridge in mid-October. Colorado Housing Now is the premier coalition of nonprofits in Colorado that build and operate affordable housing for workforce and homeless persons and families.

David Nestor is the organizing board member of the Rocky Mountain Housing Development Corporation, Inc., (RMHDC) a ten year old housing development affiliate of the Rocky Mountain Conference and continues on the board, as vice president. He was nominated because of the visionary leadership he has given RMHDC.

Not only did he call together the initial small group of UCC members who formed RMHDC, he made the original land acquisition loans that led to the development of our first two projects in Lakewood and unincorporated Arapahoe County. Nestor has appeared at countless public hearings and has contacted many officials in seeking support for RMHDC’s housing programs.

Neither Nestor nor other board members receive any compensation for the countless hours devoted to this effort. Other original board members still serving are Bill Eha a member of First Plymouth Congregational UCC in Englewood, Tom Woodruff a member of First Congregational UCC in Boulder and myself, a member of Park Hill Congre-gational UCC in Denver.

RMHDC’s “modus operundi” is to build or acquire rental communities that serve individuals and families whose incomes are from 30% to 60% of the Denver area median income. Providing decent housing for such people is only the beginning.
Distinguishing features of RMHDC are the social services and recreational support provided at each of its properties that far exceed affordable housing statutory requirements. Staff for these programs is not supported by government agencies, so the RMHDC is constantly seeking funds to pay for these social programs. David Nestor’s commitment to these programs led him to cover salaries in the early years of RMHDC operation.

RMHDC owns and manages Foothills Green, a 72-unit rental community in Lakewood and Arapahoe Green, a 66-unit property in Arapahoe County. RMHDC is completing a 60-unit community in Arvada, and has under contract an existing 60-unit property in Englewood.

The Rocky Mountain Conference first became involved in housing for low-income families when Mountain United Church Housing, Inc. was formed in 1970, developing five properties in Denver, Wheat Ridge, Silt and Arvada. The present portfolio of properties, including the one under acquisition in Englewood, exceeds $31,000,000.
The nine RMHDC board members are appointed by the Rocky Mountain Conference Board of Directors. In addition to the four original members, the board now includes three persons who either live or have lived in our properties and two board members from the larger business community.

Many people in the Rocky Mountain Conference are unaware of the work being done by its housing corporation. The RMC is among the top one or two Conferences in the whole UCC in developing and managing housing for lower income people. As word spreads among conference churches, volunteers are stepping forward to assist with tutoring, recreation and other support services.

A final note: With refugees from Katrina being relocated, RMHDC has made available fifteen apartments. Assistance is needed from conference churches with rent and other services. Please contact the conference office for more details.

Published - October/November 2005 - News of the Rocky Mountain Conference, United Church News