On a sunbaked patch of the Colorado Plateau in Moab, Nancy Morlock and Eric Boxrud’s home rises like a natural extension of the landscape. Built in February 2012, the 1,000-square-foot house is more than just a structure – it’s a testament to community, sustainability and resilience.

From its smooth, lime-washed walls crafted using tadelakt, a traditional Moroccan plaster, to its tawny adobe floors that mirror the rusty-red desert soil, every inch of the house reflects the spirit of the land it rests upon. Even the walls – stacked straw bales coated in earthen plaster – carry the warmth of a home literally built from the ground up.

“Our house holds the energy of all the people who helped build it,” Morlock said.

The home is one of over 70 built by Community Rebuilds, a Moab-based nonprofit tackling the town’s affordable housing crisis with innovative, sustainable designs.
Started in 2002 by Emily Niehaus, the organization constructs energy-efficient homes for low-income residents while educating the next generation of builders in natural construction techniques.

Morlock’s journey with Community Rebuilds began in 2011 when she and her husband were struggling to find stable housing. As mountain bike guides earning a combined $30,000 annually, they couldn’t secure a loan for the dilapidated 1972 single-wide trailer they hoped to purchase. Then Morlock met Niehaus, who encouraged her to apply to the program. By February 2012, construction on their dream home was underway.

 

The Crisis in Moab

Moab’s striking red rock landscapes draw more than three million visitors annually, making it a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Yet the town’s booming tourism industry has created a housing crisis, pushing property values to unattainable heights. One-third of Moab’s residential units are now second homes or short-term rentals, leaving many local workers unable to afford even the most basic housing.

For years, the only affordable options for many residents were aging trailers – remnants of the 1950s uranium mining boom. Poorly insulated and built without modern codes, these structures are energy-inefficient and often beyond repair. Rising utility costs and unsafe conditions make them an increasingly untenable solution.

Community Rebuilds offers an alternative: affordable, sustainable homes designed to last. The organization’s innovative model relies on shared labor, with homeowners contributing 23 to 25 hours of work each week alongside AmeriCorps interns, volunteers and construction supervisors. The hands-on approach not only reduces costs but also fosters a deep sense of ownership and pride.

 

Building Builders

“We’re building builders while we’re building buildings,” Niehaus said.

Natural building techniques, which emphasize minimally processed materials like straw, clay and timber, are at the heart of Community Rebuilds’ mission. These methods create low-carbon homes that harmonize with their environment. Interns and apprentices gain invaluable skills through the program, while homeowners learn how to maintain and repair their properties long-term.

For many participants, the experience is transformative. Female and nonbinary workers make up 50-70% of each build crew, breaking barriers in a traditionally male-dominated industry.

Community Rebuilds also takes sustainability seriously. Salvaged materials – from doors sourced from neighboring construction sites to kitchen appliances rescued from remodels in Aspen, Colorado – reduce costs and waste. Solar panels and passive solar designs further enhance energy efficiency, keeping utility bills as low as $15 per month, even in Moab’s extreme desert climate.

 

A Lasting Impact

Since its founding, Community Rebuilds has housed 91 individuals in Moab, Crested Butte, Colorado, and surrounding areas. In 2020, the nonprofit partnered with the Moab Area Community Land Trust to develop Arroyo Crossing, an affordable housing community built on leased land to prevent property inflation.

Although Niehaus stepped down as executive director in 2018 to serve as Moab’s mayor, her vision continues through Rikki Epperson’s leadership. “The new American Dream looks different – financially and structurally – in the housing we can build,” Niehaus said. “Feel emboldened to put radical ideas out there like I did, and work hard to make them stick in your communities.”

For Morlock, who now works as the program manager for Community Rebuilds, the journey has come full circle. She helps new homeowners navigate the program, guiding them through applications and loans.

A decade after its completion, Morlock still lives in the home she built with her husband and the Community Rebuilds team. “It’s beautiful, it’s cozy, it’s efficient,” she said. “This house has let us raise a family in Moab, a place that we love.”