Just what is "affordable housing"?

"Affordable Housing" means housing for people who want to live and work in this area but who may not be able to buy or rent at the going rate. Such people might be service people, teachers, fire fighters, older people or young couples just starting out.

What kind of housing is being envisioned?

Good quality, environmentally sound housing at a reasonable price that is an asset to the community.

Won’t affordable housing attract undesirable people?

"Desirability" is not restricted to those who can afford housing here. It is the philosophy of the Sandwich Citizens Housing that a sustainable community needs a wide variety of residents. There is no intention to attract people who would not be an asset to the community. In fact just the opposite is our belief; that affordable housing will encourage residents who will provide services, gifts and a wide variety of qualities that will enrich our community. These will be desirable citizens of the town.

Isn’t Sandwich Citizens Housing “skewed” in favor of people who are involved in building and therefore stand to benefit most from any SCH undertaking?

Although a few of those recruited for the Board of Directors have been involved with the building trades in the Sandwich area, any non-profit organization devoted to the issue of housing requires a Board comprised of members with a wide variety of skills and backgrounds. Knowledge of finance, construction, engineering, and communication and organization skills are essential if projects are to be successful. SCH is committed to creating and maintaining a Board of Directors that has the experience and skills that will ensure our work is successful. Our work is governed by our bylaws. These were written to comply with the NH State ethical standards, which place severe restrictions on any financial transactions between a Board member and the organization.”

Aren’t you fostering more growth? Can’t we just stay like we are?

Sandwich has been, and will continue to be, subject to the development pressures experienced by many parts of rural New Hampshire. It is our goal to provide alternatives to the unintentional and disorganized growth that all too often results when communities yield to those pressures. We believe that when development occurs in Sandwich it should be done in such a way as to maintain a varied and sustainable community that is home to a variety of residents and retains the small town rural character of the town.  

Housing is a nationwide problem. Sandwich is no different. Why should we be trying to change something which is so prevalent?

Crime is nationwide. So is hunger, but that does not mean that we should not try to remedy the local situation just because it is found all across the country.

Why do we need more housing when we don’t have any industry to support a local workforce?

The efforts of SCH are to provide housing for a diversity of people who may not be able to afford living here. Such people might be teachers, service people, fire fighters, older retired people, and young people just starting out. "Workforce Housing" is too narrow a term. “Affordable housing” encompasses a much broader, diverse population of people who currently cannot afford to live here.

We don’t want cluster housing in Sandwich. Is that what you are planning?

We do not have a particular housing plan in mind. Any housing we support will be carefully planned to meet our criteria of sustainability, quality and appropriate to the community.