Testimonials
In the Sanibel/Captiva region, 80% of female-single-parent families fall below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) threshold, a measure of financial stability. For Jessica Baker, that’s more than just a statistic. Jessica works as a server in a local restaurant. She enjoys the job, the people and the community. But when divorce left her coping as a single mom with two kids, the financial toll proved daunting. “I needed to find a new, affordable home,” said Jessica.
She’d been commuting to Sanibel from Cape Coral. Transportation costs and those hours on the road piled onto a stressful time. That’s when Community Housing & Resources stepped in. “I knew about CHR and how they help families,” she said. “I had an opportunity to apply, so I took the chance to see if we could qualify for help.”
They did. CHR offered Jessica and her family a rental site at Centre Place. “It’s a very family-oriented neighborhood. The rent is much more affordable, and it has the convenience of being five minutes from my job,” said Jessica.
She added that CHR’s staff was supportive throughout the process. “It was pretty easy and straightforward. They were very flexible with my schedule, and they were patient with me in moving in. They’ve been really generous and helpful,” she said. “When I saw how nice the apartment and location were, and that it could be a reality, it was definitely worthwhile,” said Jessica.
Neil Erickson calls his experience with Community Housing & Resources “life-changing.” Now he and his family are doing their part to help CHR change the lives of others. “My three sons are in Boy Scouts, and I’m the assistant scoutmaster. We do a lot of volunteer work for CHR,” said Neil.
If you show up at a CHR event, like the recent Give Your Heart to CHR Gala, chances are you’ll see Neil, his sons and their fellow Scouts helping out. Visit a senior citizen at Casa Mariposa, and you might see a thoughtful card or handmade ornament from a Scout. Neil himself was part of the Thursday Volunteer Group, a small army of workers who did household repairs
for CHR residents. “It’s all about giving back to an organization and a community that means so much to us,” Neil explained.
Neil moved from northern Minnesota to Florida in 1994, eventually settling in Sanibel. Impressed with its friendly, small-town feel, he took a job with The Island Water Association, Inc. Soon his family outgrew their small rental, and they relocated to Cape Coral. That meant years of tough daily commutes, sometimes up to two hours.
No surprise, then, that they were eager to return to Sanibel. The family turned to CHR, which offers resources for affordable housing to full-time island workers who meet income guidelines. Through CHR’s Limited Equity Ownership option, they found a new home, and a new life, with the close-knit community at Centre Place. “It’s a wonderful island community. It’s friendly, safe, and feels like a small town. The school system is excellent. We love the bike paths and the nature preserves,” Neil said.
People who encounter Dave Hoggatt will tell you he’s got a lot of heart. And a lot of hearts.
Dave carries handmade clay hearts bearing uplifting words, like “Rejoice” and “Joy” and “Love.” Give him a smile – or look as if you need something to smile about – and he’ll offer you a heart. It’s his way of honoring his late wife and giving something back to the island community that’s given so much to him, including CHR. “Sanibel and CHR are my home,” said Dave, who lives at Community Housing & Resources’ Casa Mariposa. The property on Periwinkle Way serves older adults.
Dave and his wife, Barbara, were running a pottery business in Indiana when they visited Sanibel Island in 1981. Before their vacation ended, they’d decided to set up shop here. They ran the business together for almost 30 years. Barbara came up with the pocket-sized hearts to use up excess clay. Dave took on the task after his wife passed away from cancer. He sees it as a way to honor Barbara while encouraging others.
Dave himself gains great encouragement from his faith. Finding an affordable home in his retirement is one example of how he believes that faith opens doors – in this case, through CHR and the community it provides. “Leaders and staff have brought a new sense of contact. We feel more connected. There are more activities to engage residents. That friendliness is important,” Dave explained.
Dave carries that friendliness into the Sanibel community. Don’t be surprised to see him out and about, handing out his clay hearts and sharing his gratitude for CHR.
“I’m a beach person. I always wanted to live in Florida. My dream was to walk out my back door and be at the beach.” It’s not that Wanda McKittrick hasn’t lived other dreams. As a preschool teacher for 35 years, she’d helped countless youngsters in South Dakota and Colorado get a great start in life. But Florida still beckoned. Four years ago, she landed in Sanibel and started teaching at the Children’s Education Center of the Island (CECI).
“I’ve always loved kids,” said Wanda, who started helping in a kindergarten classroom when she was a high-school senior. On any given day, she teaches about 40 young children at the Center.
While she loves being part of the Sanibel community, housing on a teacher’s salary is tough to come by. Then she heard about Community Housing & Resources. To her relief, CHR found her a place at its Riverview site that Wanda could afford. Then came Hurricane Ian, which devastated some CHR properties, including Wanda’s. Determined to make sure no one was left homeless, CHR staff quickly mobilized to help.
“They put me in contact with FISH to get a trailer to live in temporarily,” Wanda said. “Later, CHR got me into a duplex at Airport Way. That’s where I am now.” Having stable, affordable housing allowed Wanda to stay in Sanibel and keep shaping young lives for the future.
Not only is she still teaching, Wanda lives in a supportive and friendly community thanks to CHR. And that beach dream? It’s everything Wanda thought it would be.