provided to The Santiva Chronicle
In the Sanibel/Captiva region, 80 percent of female-single-parent families fall below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, a measure of financial stability. For Jessica Baker, it is more than just a statistic.
Jessica works as a server in a local restaurant. She enjoys the job, the people and the community. But when divorce left her coping as a single mom with two kids, the financial toll proved daunting.
“I needed to find a new, affordable home,” said Jessica.
She had been commuting to the island from Cape Coral. Transportation costs and those hours on the road piled onto a stressful time, when Community Housing & Resources stepped in.
“I knew about CHR and how they help families,” she said. “I had an opportunity to apply, so I took the chance to see if we could qualify for help.”
They did. CHR offered Jessica and her family a rental site at Centre Place. “It’s a very family-oriented neighborhood. The rent is much more affordable, and it has the convenience of being five minutes from my job,” said Jessica. “The community is really great. Everybody is so welcoming.”
She added CHR’s staff was supportive throughout the process. “It was pretty easy and straightforward. They were very flexible with my schedule, and they were patient with me in moving in. They’ve been really generous and helpful,” she said.
“When I saw how nice the apartment and location were, and that it could be a reality, it was definitely worthwhile,” said Jessica. “If you want to feel cared for, I would choose CHR.”
Community Housing & Resources provides safe, quality, affordable housing for families and individuals who work in and serve our island communities. Learn more at sancapchr.org.
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