This letter is in response to Ms. O’Dell’s Letter last week regarding affordable housing here in Little Compton.

I was truly jaw dropped by reading her editorial. I had no idea that people moved to Little Compton because it was such a great tax haven! To those of us who have lived here for 30-plus years, the low taxes are simply a side benefit — that is not why we are here. We are here to raise our families in a community of sharing and consideration for all. I moved here in 1993 as a single mother to raise my three children, then 4 ½, 2 ½ and 3 months old. I was poor and needed to NOT live with my parents (who had lived here since 1974). I was very fortunate to receive Section 8 housing, right here in Little Compton, and it helped me get back on my feet following a very difficult time. I was able to raise my children here and get amazing support from the community. But now, even if they wanted to, my kids could not afford to live here. That is not right. Shouldn’t children who have spent most of their life somewhere be able to live there?

Local businesses cannot find enough help, especially our farmers, because we are so far away and it is too expensive to live here!

Our schools are dwindling in population because young families cannot afford to buy a home here. I could be wrong, but I think I heard that the lowest price of a house recently was just under a half million dollars. Most young couples raising children cannot afford that, even with both parents working.

It is my understanding that EVERY town in the state is REQUIRED a minimum of affordable housing and we don’t even come close to that.

Do we just want to be a community of people who can afford to live here? Or, do we want to be a community of people who supports everyone, regardless of their financial status, because they are working here or want to raise another generation here. THAT is what community is. I am afraid the NIMBY approach to affordable housing is selfish and exclusive — is that where you want to live?  Perhaps a more productive approach is to participate in the town meetings so that you can better understand the reasons the town is looking into affordable housing at all and the various approaches being researched to satisfy that end.

Bonnie Phinney

Little Compton