County names two finalists for Housing Authority director

Both candidates have affordable housing experience

The Gunnison County Housing Authority is narrowing the field of candidates to take the vacant director’s post. Two applicants have emerged from an original field of more than 15.

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KT Gazunis lived in Western Colorado for 40 years and worked as the Eagle County housing director for several years, helping to develop an affordable housing program. In January of this year she moved to the Los Angeles area to become the president and CEO of the 1010 Development Corporation and continue her work with low-income housing.
Helene Brown is currently working as an architect for the state of Louisiana, helping to rebuild areas damaged by Hurricane Katrina. In addition to her position with the state, Brown has spent the past 25 years as an affordable housing consultant. She also has a home in Mt. Crested Butte.
Originally, the need for housing oversight in Gunnison County came from a senior housing facility in the city of Gunnison that fell on hard times. The county stepped in to address the situation, says county manager Matthew Birnie.
The authority, as it is today, was created by an intergovernmental agreement in 1996 that tried to address housing concerns throughout the county. At the time, the intention was to transition housing needs in all of the county’s municipalities into its governance.
A hiring committee comprised of representatives from each of the county’s major municipalities, a county commissioner and the county manager has been dedicated to the search for a new director since former director Denise Wise resigned in August.
The committee is hoping to fill the position as soon as possible, understanding that there will have to be time for the winning candidate to move, since all candidates are from out of state, and then transition into the community.