James Zink isn’t your typical philanthropist. A rodeo athlete and carpenter by trade, he recently threw his support behind Habitat for Humanity of La Plata County — and in a region where affordable housing has quietly become a full-blown crisis, that kind of commitment lands differently than a corporate check.
Zink’s donation goes directly toward expanding access to safe, affordable housing for residents in and around Durango, CO. That’s the mission Habitat La Plata has built its reputation on: partnering with local families, helping them purchase quality homes, and keeping costs from blowing past what a working household can actually manage. None of it happens without people like him stepping up.
The organization runs more than just home builds, though. There’s the local ReStore — a non-profit home improvement store and donation center sitting at 50 Design Center Road in Durango — where new and gently used appliances, furniture, home goods, and building materials sell at steep discounts compared to retail. It’s a smart, self-sustaining operation that stretches every donated dollar further than you might expect.
Habitat La Plata sent Zink a formal thank-you recognizing his contributions, which covered both construction support and general program expenses. Leadership didn’t just stop at saying thanks, either. The message pushed something they consider equally important to the bottom line: volunteer time. Flexible schedules, hands-on skill sets, a willingness to show up on a Saturday morning — all of it keeps the mission moving.
Here’s the thing about why this matters right now: Colorado is in rough shape on housing. Median home prices in the state approached $560,000 in 2025 — sixth-highest in the country, per Mile High United Way. Overall, Colorado ranks as the eighth most unaffordable state in the US. More than half of renters face cost burdens. About a quarter of homeowners are too. Those aren’t abstract policy numbers — they’re families making impossible tradeoffs every month.
The national picture? Arguably worse. The US Chamber of Commerce puts the housing shortage at nearly 5 million homes, the result of a decade of underbuilding colliding head-on with mortgage rates that helped drive home prices up roughly 55% since 2020. Around one-third of American households now spend more than half their pre-tax income on housing and utilities alone. Severely cost burdened, in policy terms. Stretched thin, in real ones.
That’s the environment Habitat La Plata is working against – and why donors like rodeo athlete James Zink aren’t just appreciated; they’re necessary.
The organization leans on a belief that’s simple but worth saying out loud: local groups, given the right resources and community will, can do what broad policy often can’t. They can build actual houses. Put actual families in them. Create actual stability — the kind that compounds over time, where kids grow up in the same school district, where parents build equity instead of burning income on rent.
Zink gets that. Someone who works with their hands for a living, who understands what a solid structure actually requires, showing up for an organization that builds them — the connection makes sense.
And the work isn’t limited to big donors or skilled tradespeople. Anyone looking to get involved with Habitat La Plata can volunteer at the ReStore, help organize community events, or contribute however their schedule allows. No construction background required. Just a willingness to show up.
For information on volunteer opportunities, visit habitatlaplata.org.