To the Editor:
I have been involved with various efforts to create affordable housing for more than 10 years, but the need far exceeds locally available resources. Therefore I urge Tisbury voters to support the nonbinding resolution on our town ballot concerning the establishment of a regional Island housing bank. Such a bank could bring together funds from various sources, private as well as public, to support affordable housing in any town when a site becomes available. It could operate on the Land Bank model: Funds coming to a housing bank from any source could be allocated 50 percent to a central fund, and the other 50 percent to the six towns in proportion to funds raised within each town. Moreover, each town could veto anything the housing bank proposed to do in that town.
Strong endorsement of the housing bank concept at the ballot box will help tremendously in efforts to attract funds for desperately needed Island-wide housing.
Tony Nevin
Vineyard Haven