provided to The Santiva Chronicle
What’s the downside of coming to Sanibel Island? Leaving it. Kate Sergeant, co-owner of On Island, makes it her mission to help people feel connected here. So does Community Housing & Resources. While their work may be different, they share a familiar spirit.
“The goal of On Island is to make people feel connected to the islands, even when they’re off island,” said Kate. “It’s recognizing how I felt when I lived up north. I always felt at home when I was on the islands.” In childhood, Kate vacationed here regularly with her grandparents. When her Chicago-based employer decided to open an office in Florida, Kate convinced them to choose Sanibel. She moved here in 2011.
In 2015, she and a friend launched On Island as an online business. Now with both online and physical shops, the company sells island-themed apparel and accessories to help customers feel connected to the islands. That connection is vital for more than residents and visitors. The workers and families of Sanibel and Captiva need it, too — not just the sense of home, but an actual, affordable roof over their heads. That’s where CHR comes in.
“Having a pool of employees available on the island is difficult because of housing costs. And it’s also hard to find employees willing to make the long drive here. More than that, there’s value in living in, and being part of, a community where you work,” Kate said. CHR makes it possible for workers of all kinds — service, retail, infrastructure and support — to live near their jobs, strengthening the community they help sustain.
By providing affordable housing on Sanibel, CHR helps build a cohesive community.
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