Housing Programs

Focus on the Future: Employer Assisted Housing

In late 2003, CHR was given an additional affordable housing-related assignment by the Sanibel City Council: completion of an Employer Assisted Housing study. Earlier the City Manager shared with the Sanibel City Council, the public and the CHR Board of Dir/ectors 2002 City employee survey, and concern for Sanibel’s ability to continue to attract and retain employees. It was apparent that the majority of Sanibel City employees are living some distance from their jobs outside of Sanibel Island, and most stated a desire to buy a home.

Having affordable housing opportunities near employees’ jobs can help Sanibel attract and retain qualified workers for a variety of positions. Our area has low unemployment and high competition for the same potential employees, causing some employers to offer sign-on bonuses and other incentives. Having employees close to their work sites on Sanibel would also provide enhanced services to the community, especially in emergency situations. In turn, employees would spend less time and money on an often lengthy commute to and from work and would be able to be residents of and participants in the Sanibel community. Retention of qualified and skilled workers would also significantly lessen the costs associated with employee turn-over and training.

As part of the EAH study, Sanibel City administration compiled additional employee information in 2004, and the study was completed by CHR Board members Richard Faris and Dick Mark in 2005 with the help of consultants experienced in this field, The Concord Group from California. The study report was submitted to the City of Sanibel, given initial City Council discussion, and contains three recommendations for the City to consider:

• Housing and counseling services
• Down payment assistance, or
• Construction of EAH units.

CHR expressed great interest and willingness to help Sanibel pursue these and other options, noting the CHR’s 26 years of housing experience. Sanibel City Council decided to consider EAH further during the budget planning process. CHR owns a two acre site off Center Street that could become the next BMRH and/or EAH location.

Potential private owner development of some BMRH and/or EAH units is also foreseeable in the future. Recently, CHR has talked with four representatives of owners of Sanibel commercial property, resort property and vacant land site owners about potential use of their properties or existing units for future BMRH and/or EAH. These opportunities appear viable and are being further researched for future projects.

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