Dacono family celebrates new home built by volunteers
Oct. 29—Friends and neighbors of the Chavez family, who lost their home in a fire last year, gathered in Dacono on Friday evening to celebrate a fresh start: a new house for the Chavezes built by Habitat for Humanity of the St. Vrain Valley.
"When you have a fire like this, your world changes instantly," said Dave Emerson, executive director of Habitat St. Vrain. "What we're doing here is walking alongside the family."
In July 2021, a fire destroyed the mobile home of Octavio and Felipa Chavez and also damaged a few surrounding properties. No one was injured, but the Chavezes had to move to a different part of Dacono to live with their daughter while they figured out how to move forward.
Working with Habitat St. Vrain, the Chavezes helped finance their new home through insurance and sweat equity, which Emerson said allowed the nonprofit to build the property at a relatively low cost. Over 100 volunteers worked on the house — at the same address as the previous Chavez residence — after construction began in March.
"It's great to keep (the Chavez family) in the community," said site supervisor Malaya Dugan.
Emerson facilitated the dedication ceremony, which included remarks from volunteers, community members and the Chavez family. The Rev. Hernan Florez of St. Theresa Catholic Church provided readings and blessed the house.
Krystal Winship Erazo, neighborhood revitalization manager for Habitat St. Vrain, translated for Octavio and Felipa Chavez from Spanish as they thanked everyone for their support.
"This is such a blessing," said Felipa Chavez. "We're so grateful for everything."
After the dedication ceremony, the community was invited to tour the house and admire the work done by the volunteers. The Chavezes and their son, Alessandro, will move in early next month once the necessary permits are secured. Landscaping will be completed in the spring.
"We were in a lot of pain, but this was a great help," Octavio Chavez said.
Graciela Gallegos, a neighbor who housed the Chavezes the night of the fire, said she is excited to see the family return to the area. Watching the community rally around her neighbors aroused a lot of emotion, she said.
Mountain View Fire Rescue Station 7, based in Dacono, responded to the fire last year. MVFR presented the Chavez family with a gift certificate for the Habitat St. Vrain ReStore and quilts from Firehouse Quilts, a Colorado nonprofit that donates quilts to victims of accidents and tragedies.
"Out of something bad, this is the best outcome," said MVFR Battalion Chief Sean Flagg. "Something new gets built that ends up improving the community."
Emerson thanked FirstBank for being a longstanding partner of Habitat St. Vrain. Banking officer Justin Mason handed the keys to the house to Octavio Chavez, who displayed them to the crowd with a smile. Mason said it felt great to officially transfer ownership to the family.
"They've had patience throughout the process," Mason said. "Seeing how happy they are now makes me really happy."
