Why Support Housing Lopez?
Those of us lucky enough to live, work, and play on Lopez know what a special place this is. What’s not so special is the housing situation. We have a growing housing crisis that forces many Island employees to live in dilapidated structures, move multiple times a year, or relocate off island only to endure expensive and time consuming commutes. If folks can’t find housing, they can’t take jobs in our emergency services, school, trades, restaurants, or retail. This impacts all of us who live or spend time regularly on the island.
Housing Lopez is the only organization dedicated to providing long-term affordable rental housing for Island residents. Your support makes it possible for our neighbors to live in safe, stable, and affordable homes and make a life for themselves and their families.
Our first project of six rental homes, known as Fish Bay Cottages, was completed on-time and on-budget in the midst of the pandemic. Our experience using off-island manufactured home construction with local contractor support has proven to be a winning recipe. This track record enables us to compete for and receive critical government funding to develop additional housing. Our goal is to continue to develop much needed affordable rental homes that will serve the broader community of low-income Island residents.
Our second project is currently under development with construction set to begin in early 2024. Once again, we will be pairing manufactured home construction with local contractors for site development, utilities, storm water detention, and landscaping. Village North Phase 1 will result in 15 new housing units for low-income residents earning less than 50% of the area median income.
Your donation not only helps us build more housing, but more importantly you become partners with your fellow Lopezians, demonstrating that community residents are behind the organization and our work. This provides the kind of broad community support that attracts and encourages funding sources such as foundations, banks and other public funding sources to invest in this work. They all ask: “Is the community behind you?”