Housing 5.2: Seasonal Workforce Housing

Objective H5: Encourage public-private partnerships to address seasonal workforce housing needs.

The Vineyard’s year-round housing needs are compounded by the needs of the estimated 5,000 seasonal workers that come to the Vineyard during the summer.  Some of the larger employers do provide temporary housing for their staff but the Vineyard is made up mainly of small businesses; over 70% employ 1–4 workers.  It could be useful to look to public-private partnerships to address seasonal workforce housing needs. (Of course, the need to accommodate seasonal workers would be reduced if we used more year-round employees such as retirees and high school students.)

·  Strategy H5-1: Conduct an education and outreach campaign to raise awareness about seasonal workforce housing needs.  The Martha’s Vineyard Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with Island housing entities and regional entities can encourage owners of private residences to rent rooms to seasonal workers.  Other benefits could include fundraising opportunities that could help assist in addressing the seasonal workforce housing needs like purchasing existing housing that will be transformed into boarding houses.

·  Strategy H5-2: Create dormitory housing for seasonal workers. Encourage the private sector take the lead in financing and building units to be used by their employees. The public sector can assist by advancing zoning measures to facilitate the construction of dormitory housing in addition to helping to procure land. Dormitory housing could be in new or existing structures, or perhaps even in an old cruise ship if dock space could be found.

Strategy H5-3: Consider revising zoning to allow recreational camping. Recreational vehicles and campground facilities could provide an alternative form of safe, decent, and temporary housing