This month, we’d like to share a new success story of our Covenant Program. 

Many readers will recognize Jasper, a Nantucket native, who spent time after high school exploring and experiencing life off-island. Eventually, he returned, feeling the pull of the community he knew so well. 

Even with such strong ties to the island, Jasper knew scratching out a life here wouldn’t be easy. But little by little, things fell into place. 

Last year, Jasper became the new owner of his family’s business, a local bicycle shop opened in 1931. Additionally, he acquired a piece of land created through Housing Nantucket’s Covenant program. It was a good year for him!

We interviewed Jasper to understand his journey from living with his parents, to shared spaces with roommates, to a recycled and renovated home on a Covenant lot. As far as housing here goes, he did it all. Through it all, he wanted the independence and stability that comes with homeownership. 

“I was lucky to find places with year-round leases when I first was living on my own. But pretty much like clockwork, after a year or two of living there, each owner would either sell the property or switch to short-term rental,” Jasper said.

Eventually, Jasper’s perseverance paid off. Jasper recycled and renovated his new home, on a lot his family created through the Covenant Program. “Throughout the process, they took time to meet with us, to understand our family’s situation and discuss options. It’s obviously a struggle out there. But now, having certainty that we’ll have a place to live every year, is such a relief. I feel fortunate that this piece of land was in the family and that we were eligible for the Covenant program.”

We are proud that our Covenant Program creates space for stories like Jasper’s. Our success stories highlight the impact of affordable housing. More than just hope, the Covenant Program creates a cycle-logical path to homeownership.