WE NEED TO STOP THINKING OF PEOPLE IN NEED OF HOUSING AS A DRAIN ON THE COMMUNITY

A common theme in any discussion of housing is the grumbling about what negative impacts it will have. They’ll bring more traffic, use more water and generally want more of what is ours. But stop for a minute and think about it. Is it really more traffic? Many of the people in need of housing are already here. They may be living in a too small space for their family or with family or friends. Or they are coming over the bridges because they work here but live off-cape. Either way, they are already here and they are part of our community. Don’t they deserve a decent place to live? 

We need to stop thinking of people in need of housing as a drain on the community. They represent more than additional traffic or more water usage. They are part of our community. They are our seniors struggling to maintain their home when nothing less is available.  They are the teachers and staff in our kids’ school, the police officer or firefighter that answers our calls, the medical staff that looks after us and the workers that man our stores, restaurants and businesses. And yes, we actually need more of them. Employers all over the cape say they need more workers. But instead of adding a workforce we continue to lose people who can’t afford to stay - including our own kids. Why are we so welcoming to tourists who bring traffic, use water, demand services and then leave? But then we are so intolerant of people who want to be part of the community and become the next generation of cape codders?