Message from the President

BY MICHAEL QUARANTA

In our state, 80 percent of the housing inventory in New Castle and Kent Counties is comprised of detached, single-family homes. In Sussex County, the problem is even more pronounced, with a staggering 85 percent of the homes being detached, single-family properties. This presents several challenges to people of all age groups, spanning from those in the workforce to retirees. Let me explain.

For young people starting out in their careers, it has become increasingly difficult to find apartments, duplexes, or townhomes within a reasonable distance of their jobs, and what is available is oftentimes very pricey. We all know a basic fact of economics is that scarcity or shortages typically lead to higher prices. So, the absence of a diverse housing inventory challenges our retail employees, healthcare workers, teachers, first responders, hospitality employees, and more. And, what about our retirees? Our older neighbors are the largest and fastest-growing segment of our state’s population, and we have few places for them to downsize from their single-family homes or find assisted living when needed.

This problem cannot be solved without our members getting involved. When local zoning or permitting issues arise, please find your voice and weigh in on the matter. Developers will certainly speak up, but the public views their participation through a green lens of greed. However, when you point out that fewer nurses mean less care or longer wait times, fewer first responders mean valuable time is lost in an emergency, or everyday conveniences like assistance at a store or service at a restaurant become a hassle, then we lose much of the foundation that keeps a community thriving.