by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Community Housing & Resources Executive Director Nicole Decker McHale presented the organization’s Annual Report.
CHR was incorporated 45 years ago and has nine properties throughout the city located close to resources. They had 76 apartments before Hurricane Ian but lost 11 and one permanently at Algiers. They have developed plans for rebuilding 15 one-bedroom, one-bath apartments and will be going before the Planning Commission in April. The cost will be $7 million, $5 million of which has already been raised.
“We’re housing first responders, teachers, retail and restaurant employees, city employees, nonprofit employees,” McHale said. Fifteen percent of residents are from nonprofits, 14 percent are from the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, five percent are city employees. There are 89 residents including 15 children and 26 seniors. Thirty-five percent of CHR residents don’t own a vehicle, and the average wage is $13/hour. Thirteen people are currently on the waiting list. In addition, there are 10 limited-equity ownership homes. The average income of CHR residents is $40,000 and they pay 30 percent of their income in rent. By comparison, the average income in Southwest Florida is $80,000, McHale said.
Last year, CHR had 150 inquiries including 45 from people who were working and homeless, living in their cars or their places of business, or “couch surfing” among friends and family. A person could be working but maybe not getting the hours they need, McHale explained.
“We need to support the community and our members who work here and support the individuals who are serving us,” McHale said.
McHale referenced the affordable housing that might be built in the old Sanibel Outlets location. “We’re not the only ones vying for Sanibel Outlets,” she said. “There’s Shell Point,” she noted, which has many more employees.
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