Housing Committee Meeting 11/28/18

The housing committee met for the first time on Nov. 28.

We came up with a mission statement:

"Strengthen our community by creating varied opportunities for housing on the island."

Here are some major topics that we discussed:

Housing for single people/couples vs. families

• There isn't enough housing for families OR single people. Both approaches are needed.
• When precedence is given to families, it often discourages single people and couples without children. Young people with skills are crucial to maintaining the island's year-round community
• How can we create flexible and versatile housing that can accommodate a variety of needs/family types?

Serving current residents vs. new residents

• Our discussion indicated that both types of residents are in need of housing.
• Some current residents may not be able to stay on the island because they can't afford to buy the houses that are up for sale. This is am immediate problem.
• How many people need housing now? i.e. living in inadequate homes or can't afford their rent or are at risk of being pushed out of their homes?

Can the existing housing stock help us solve this problem?

• A 2015 survey by Bob Gerber and John Dewitt indicates that of the 183 houses and dwellings on the island, 79 were winterized and 43 were used by year-round residents.
• Some favor taking a house by house approach, finding places to house people in existing homes.
• The seasonal housing stock may not be suitable to solve this problem; there is still the problem of not being able to find a place to live in the summer.
• What would it take to turn the parsonage into an apartment? Is the church interested in this? What would be the reasons for and against doing this?

Affordable housing

• If the rents are too low, or if we call it "affordable" housing, tenants may feel less accountability. Setting the rents higher may encourage tenants to respect the space more.

Jobs

• There is not a broad range of jobs, but you can make a living year-round if you are willing to work hard
• How many workers could be accommodated? Possible 3-4 jobs in building/construction, 2-3 sternmen, new power company manager.
• Broadband will create more opportunities to work from home.

Next steps:

• Between now and January: conduct more interviews (Molly)
• At our next meeting (1st week in January):
  • Further define the problem. Create a needs statement.
  • Brainstorm solutions
• Define the relationship between ICDC and this group. How are we working together? What are the common goals and the differences?