John came to Nantucket in 1999 from Bangkok, Thailand. He came to work for his uncle’s carpentry business where, twenty five years later, he remains proud to be a valuable contributor. He quickly found his place in the community through hard work and dedication to his trade. John and his wife Orathai now have two children, both students within the Nantucket Public Schools.

“I love the lifestyle on Nantucket,” John said, “from the quiet off-season to the natural beauty and friendly people.”

Despite their connections within the community, John’s family faced a rocky road in their pursuit of stable housing. Fluctuating rental costs frequently uprooted them from the place they called home.

“From 1999, we moved more than twenty times- close to once per year,” said John. “The kids remembered moving from a young age as the problem [rent] got bigger, and bigger, and bigger.”

As soon as John felt like he was getting ahead the rental market would knock him back. John and his family rolled with the punches – twenty five years worth. At a recent rental, John received a call from the landlord. The rent was going up $600 per month, an all-too-common situation. The family was forced to to move yet again.

In 2014, John discovered Housing Nantucket through a friend and submitted a Ready-to-Rent application. After applying, he spent ten more years in the Nantucket Shuffle.

However, it took another decade of perseverance before their long-awaited breakthrough arrived.

“An angel called me, asking if we needed a home,” John recalls with emotion. “We were crying tears of happiness because we had been constantly moving.”

Currently, Housing Nantucket houses 110 people through our affordable rental program, providing vital stability to families across the island. Stories like John’s warm our hearts and inspire us to continue our mission of providing equitable housing solutions for year-round residents.

“My family wants to stay here,” John emphasizes. “Nantucket is our home. Our lives are here. We don’t want to start again. Now, my family can pursue our life goals, like owning a home of our own. We are on a path to stability.”

John’s journey exemplifies the impact of our donor’s support. Together, we can ensure more working families like John’s thrive on Nantucket. Thank you for being a part of this important journey.