provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Chat with Marcus Preece about Community Housing & Resources, and he’ll quickly point out how CHR adds flavor to the community and strengthens the whole island economy.
According to Preece, general manager of the popular restaurant Cielo, “Whether it be restaurants, retail, hotels, resorts, boutique stores, anyone, CHR benefits all businesses by giving employees the option to live affordably on Sanibel.”
Cielo is one of those businesses. In the 12 years since he came to the restaurant, Preece has seen many workers find fulfillment living in CHR’s affordable housing.
“Many people think everyone here has money, so housing isn’t a problem. But it’s expensive to live here. The workforce either has to commute off the island, 40-plus minutes each way every single day, or they can turn to CHR,” Preece explained.
“CHR helps satisfy the need for affordable housing by bringing rent down because it’s based on income,” he added. “It’s an amazing option for island workers to live here where they work, savor more time with family, and be part of the community.”
There’s even more to that recipe for success: the network of nonprofit agencies that provide vital services across Sanibel and Captiva. “CHR and other local charities do a great job of working together. That creates an overall benefit for the success of everyone on our islands,” said Preece. “Without CHR, the workforce on Sanibel would be much more limited.”
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