provided to The Santiva Chronicle
After Hurricane Ian destroyed its Riverview property on Periwinkle Way, Community Housing & Resources quickly cared for its residents. Craig Rumpf was one of them, and he’s grateful.
“It’s such a great program,” said Rumpf. “Quite a few of my coworkers live in CHR properties, so this is something that’s needed. And the staff are all very nice people.”
Entranced by Sanibel during childhood vacations, the Michigan native was thrilled to land a job with Tarpon Bay Explorers eight years ago. He applied to CHR and soon moved into Riverview. Then came the heartbreaking blow of Ian, which cost him his home, his job, and his place on Sanibel.
“I ended up finding a job down in Naples, helping with tours and at a kayak shop, stuff like that,” Rumpf said. Eventually, he landed a new job at the Sanibel Sea School thanks to his background in biology. Through it all, he stayed connected with CHR.
“I asked them to keep me in mind, and they did,” he said. “Some of CHR’s buildings were fine, but there were some that needed repair. After that, they reached back out to me.”
Rumpf now lives at Mahogany Way, surrounded by good neighbors and a peaceful setting. It’s the kind of home many island workers need.
“Many people work here, but high housing costs, especially for young adults, make it hard to find something affordable and convenient,” said Rumpf. “CHR is a great organization. It offers us a much-needed stepping stone.”
“If you are looking for housing and you work here on Sanibel, CHR can be a big game-changer,” Rumpf concluded.
Community Housing & Resources provides safe, affordable housing for people who work in and serve our island. Learn more at sancapchr.org.
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