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Community Housing & Resources
Historically employers played a major
role in housing their workers. Currently plans are being developed on
Sanibel that are adaptable to public and private employers that
require a stable workforce, and who seek to offer this basic need in a
worker incentive approach.
In late 2003, CHR was
given an additional affordable housing-related assignment by City
Council - completion of an Employer Assisted Housing (EAH) study. The
City Manager shared with the City Council, the public, and the CHR
Board of Directors her 2002 City employee survey and her concern for
the City's ability to continue to attract and retain City employees.
It was then and still is apparent that the majority of City employees
are living some distance from their jobs, and most stated a desire to
buy a home. Having affordable housing opportunities near City
employees' jobs can help the City attract and retain qualified workers
for a variety of positions. Our area has low unemployment and high
competition for the same potential employees, causing some employers
to offer sign-on bonuses and other incentives. Having City employees
close to their Sanibel work sites would also provide enhanced services
to the community, especially in emergency situations. In turn, the
employees would spend less time and money on an often lengthy commute
to and from work, and would be able to be residents of and
participants in the Sanibel community. Retention of a qualified and
skilled workforce also significantly lessons the costs associated with
turn-over and training.
THE
SAME SCENARIO APPLIES TO PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYMENT NEEDS.
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