Decades of Building Community
By Nancy Redding
Margret Mead knew “that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.” Andover Community Trust is a small group committed to changing the world one family at a time. For ten years Susan Stott imagined a different model for affordable housing. She dreamed of building single family homes in established neighborhoods. In 1992, thirty three years ago, she collected the first board directors.
Last fall, Susan gave me a windshield tour of the thirteen houses ACT has built. They tuck into their neighborhoods as if they’ve always been there. The homeowners take care of the land and the home. Sandy and Kerry, one of our ACT homeowners, shared their abundant gratitude. One of the great advantages of the Andover Community Trust program is that it allows families to move from rental to ownership.
Homeownership is a very big step for a family with some large obstacles and some great advantages. Sandy and Kerry and their two children had been living in a crowded apartment and dreamed of living in a house of their own. Their dream has come true when they were chosen to own an ACT home.. Their children have thrived in good schools, one is a recent graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical School. Our homeowners appreciate what others take for granted. Housing makes a critical difference, a house offers a sense of stability and permanence and opportunity.
On Sunday evening, June 22nd, the Board of directors gathered at Oak & Iron to celebrate what ACT has accomplished in the last year. Oak & Iron has become a wonderful, community gathering place. With good food and good beer, the conversations were rich and lively and abundant. As a returning board member, I had a chance to begin to know the remarkable people I’ll be working with. While much has been accomplished, there is always more to do.
Under Denise Johnson’s leadership, ACT has helped 100s of families find affordable homes, or connect with affordable rentals, lenders or down payment assistance. Over the past few years we have expanded our work to include community assistance for rent and utilities to residents of Andover and that work becomes more and more needed each day.
Several board members deserve to be recognized for their contributions. Kate designed and managed the website, wrote many articles, started our sustainability committee and focused us on our latest goal to build a passive house. Ellen was instrumental as a liaison with South Church and its volunteers to make the Stott Circle project a success.
The Andover Community Assistance program that ACT facilitated to help folks with rent and utility payments has ended. ACT was able to assist 393 Andover residents over the past 4 years. I am happy to announce that the Town will be funding a Tenant Based Rental Assistance program that will begin soon. This is a much smaller rental assistance program but one that will provide significant help to a few families in need.
There is always more to accomplish. Every family that moves into stable housing benefits in subtle and significant ways. Housing is a basic need, one that should be in the reach of everyone. Other countries know this is possible. In the happiest countries in the world, homelessness doesn’t exist. ACT moves toward this dream, a dream without a deadline in sight, every day.
