Zonta gains insight into island housing agency
Community Housing & Resources (CHR) is often described as Sanibel’s best-kept secret, but not within the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva.
The club and its foundation have supported CHR with grant money and volunteers most years since 2003 and most members are familiar, at least in broad outline, with how CHR works. At a recent club meeting, members learned much more through a presentation by CHR housing administrator, Patti Bohm.
Since 1983, in partnership with the city of Sanibel, CHR has provided affordable housing for island workers, seniors and the disabled. Rents are structured according to income, and the 74 rental units are located in 11 neighborhoods throughout the island. Additionally, there are 14 limited-equity ownership (LEO) homes designed for purchase by island workers.
What is involved in the application process? What happens when a CHR resident loses his or her job? How does CHR work with FISH of Sanibel? All these and more questions were answered during the presentation.
A CHR employee for ten years, Bohm formerly served with a branch of Housing & Urban Development (HUD). She interviews and screens all applicants for rental units per HUD guidelines, a process which can take six weeks. All applicants must be employed full-time on the island. Those eligible for one of the special units for seniors are people who have lived on Sanibel for a number of years and have a history of contributing to the community.
“Every day we get calls from seniors outside the area who want to retire here,” Bohm said. “As far as qualifying for a CHR rental unit, it just doesn’t work that way.”
For information on the application process and CHR in general, visit sanibelchr.org.
Zonta’s grants to CHR are typically earmarked for tuition assistance for residents looking to improve job prospects-currently three women are taking advantage of this benefit-and for down payments by female applicants on LEO homes.
“The Number One reason for a person failing to qualify under LEO guidelines is the inability to come up with the down payment,” Bohm said.
The principal purpose of CHR is to provide affordable housing for island workers, establishing a readily available workforce and ensuring a diversified community. Bohm estimates that at any one time, the heads of approximately three-quarters of CHR households are women.
The “resources” in the organization’s title, Bohm explained, means a wide range of support services for residents: educational advice and guidance; budgeting; health care issues; school relationships; and much more.
“We help our residents improve their lives in whatever ways we can,” she said. “We also partner with FISH of Sanibel for support that they can offer better than we can.”
Finally, Bohm reminded Zontians of the many volunteer opportunities CHR offers, including putting together twice-yearly mailings, helping to organize social events for seniors and other groups, and assisting at the upcoming major fund raiser, the third annual Mardi Gras Party, set for Feb. 7, 2015.
About the Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva
The Zonta Club of Sanibel-Captiva is a service organization of professionals and executives working together to improve the status of women, on the islands, in Lee County, and around the world through Zonta International. For information, visit zonta.org.