What is Affordable Housing?

Affordable housing is typically made available to families making less than 100% of Area Median Income (as set by Housing and Urban Development). Housing becomes unaffordable to families when they have to spend over 30% of their monthly income. Nantucket's Area Median Income for 2009 is $88,900 for a family of four. Examples of families and residents of Housing Nantucket's units include:

• town employees
• elderly
• veterans
• families
• teachers
• police officers
• firefighters
• minimum wage earners
• non profit employees
• health providers
• retail and service workers
• single parents

Affordable housing is important to the community because it ensures healthy families, supported children, and reduced stress levels. Housing Nantucket strives to create places where families can break cycles of poverty - and can afford the basic necessities such as food, clothing, and medical care.

About Housing Nantucket

Founded in 1994 by community members seeking to stem the tide of islanders leaving the island, Housing Nantucket has been known by two different names - NHA Properties Inc. and the Nantucket Housing Office. Originally the organization was focused on rental development. Since 2002, the organization has developed three key focus areas - homeownership services, rental services and, and technical assistance.

Board of Directors   Jennifer Cohen Dawn Hill Holdgate Bertyl V. Johnson Christopher Kickham Bob Liddle Paul Wolf Jr. Staff Aaron Marcavitch, Executive Director Anne PM Kuszpa, Community & Resident Services Manager Aaron Trahan, Co-Op Student, Winter/Spring 2009 Joanna Grab, Co-Op Student, Summer/Fall 2009 Mark Genua, Intern, Summer 2009 Allison M. Browne, Co-Op Student Summer/Fall 2010

Funding
Funding for Housing Nantucket is from a variety of sources. A regular funding stream is generated from our rental services and fees associated with programs and services. The Community Preservation Committee has been a major supporter of our programs and has approved many of our grant requests. Housing Nantucket also receives funding from various private and public granting sources - such as the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, Bank of America Foundation and the Tupancy Harris Foundation of 1984. Finally, the organization uses a host of financing options for housing development through our local banks - Nantucket Bank/Sovereign Bank and Pacific National Bank/Bank of America.

Of course, just as important are the donations of local residents. In addition to the generous donations of houses and materials, many residents have added donations to these house moves. If you are interested in donating houses, materials, or simply a donation of funds, please contact our office to discuss how we can work together. More information can be found on "How to Help."