Vinalhaven Housing Committee History
The Vinalhaven Housing Committee was originally formed in December of 2018 by the Town of Vinalhaven Select Board, to address the critical need for affordable year round housing on Vinalhaven. Unfortunately that committee did not reach any conclusions or recommendations for the Vinalhaven Planning Commission.
The Vinalhaven Planning Commission attempted to address the housing shortage through consideration of ordinance revisions but quickly realized the task required extensive research and expert assistance. Toward that end the Select Board was asked to reappoint a Housing Committee which they did late in 2020. The Select Board appointed a seven-member committee whose members were Elin Elisofon, Kathi Young, Ethan Warren, Darline Beckman and Hooper Brooks, Barbara Philbrook, and Marjorie Stratton.
The Committee was authorized to: Review the Land Use Ordinance for zoning revisions that would promote year-round housing; research energy audit and other home improvement options and grants; review town owned parcels and private land for possible building sites for year-round housing.
The Committee realized a study of the housing needs was essential. The Select Board authorized funds to hire consultant Merry Terry, a respected housing expert familiar with island housing challenges, to create an anonymous Housing Assessment for our community. The Needs Assessment final report in November of 2021 indicated out of the 104 respondents, 51 reported experiencing challenges in finding housing, with almost 70% indicating affordability being the greatest barrier.
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Zoning Revisions: The Planning Commission, with the assistance of professional Land Use Planner, Mat Eddy, and input from the Housing Committee, proposed revisions to the zoning ordinance to promote and expand housing options, especially where Town water and septic is available. Those revisions were approved at a Special Town Meeting in November of 2023, and are now part of the current Ordinance.
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Finding Help for People to Stay in Their Homes: Committee work included: Researching programs to assist with energy efficiency improvements, home repairs and identifying funding and grants that would finance the work. A grant from the John T. Gorman Foundation helped pay for energy audits and air sealing in 16 year round residents homes.
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Expanding Year-Round Housing: The Committee researched State and Federal funding sources to create affordable year round housing, and spoke with other island housing organizations.
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Land Options: The Committee looked at Town owned land that might be appropriate for building year-round housing. We reviewed the cost of land purchases, building and/or moving modular units to the island and found that it is enormously expensive. In an effort to find an affordable solution, the committee reached out to several potential developers to learn if they had an interest in building on Vinalhaven to help solve our critical housing shortage.
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The Vinalhaven Housing Committee fulfilled its obligation and became the recently formed Vinalhaven Housing Initiative, a state and federally recognized nonprofit organization.
The VHI Board
Elin Elisofon President
Having been here every summer of her life as a child, and then as a year round resident, Elin cherishes the relationships formed over these many decades with members of the Vinalhaven community.
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Elin has been involved with many of the island organizations at their formative stages, including working to establish The Vinalhaven Eldercare Services, volunteering with the Vinalhaven Land Trust since its earliest days, and joining the Town of Vinalhaven Planning Commission.
Lately the Commission has worked to create revised zoning ordinances to promote the creation of year round housing on Vinalhaven.
Whether coordinating agricultural programs as an active member of the Pleasant River Grange, or showing a property as a professional realtor, Elin is rarely found without her four legged friend, Tootsie.
Duncan Urquhart Treasurer
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Duncan is a newcomer to Vinalhaven having set foot on the island for the first time in January of 2021. He knew instantly that this is where he would spend his retirement and bought a house on the island less than a week later. Duncan is originally from Massachusetts and for most of his life has spent a few weeks every summer vacationing in York or Ogunquit, Maine.
After graduating from college, Duncan spent the next 40 years in the Mid-Hudson Valley area of New York where he held positions in senior financial management with companies in both the public and private sector. Previous board experience includes 15 years as a director of a high-tech public company where he chaired both the Audit and Compensation committees.
Duncan looks forward to summers on the island playing croquet at Vinalhaven's world famous Brighton Knoll Croquet Park and spending time swimming with his 5 grandchildren at our beautiful quarries.
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Beth Newbold-Winkler
Beth is a third generation Vinalhaven 2nd homeowner – not from here but not quite from away either.
For 23 years Beth and her husband Pat co-owned a construction services business. In addition Beth brings the invaluable experience of having served on several non-profit boards.
Now retired, Beth is looking forward to spending a lot more time on her favorite place in the world.
Darline Beckman
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Darline is a lifelong resident of Vinalhaven. She attended school on Vinalhaven and is a graduate of Vinalhaven High School. Married to a native Lobsterman Sigward Beckman they raised three sons who are all currently working in the Lobster industry. She has worked at many local businesses and worked many years as a sternman for her husband. She currently is buying lobster for Bean Main Lobster and enjoys working on the waterfront.
Kathi Young Vice President
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A life long resident of Vinalhaven, Kathi graduated from Vinalhaven High School in 1987, before working at the fish plant here on the island through several different owners, until the doors were closed permanently. Known to her friends as Puggy, Kathy has worked at Island Lobster Supply for the past 20 years, building wire traps for most of the local fishermen.
As a dedicated member of the community Kathi has served on several boards, including town selectman, school board, and the Island Community Medical Center Board of Directors
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In 2005 Kathi purchased her home through USDA first time home buyers program. In that home she raised two children who both still reside on the island. Kathi is also the proud grandmother of three incredible grandchildren.
Hooper Brooks Secretary
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A seasonal resident and homeowner on Vinalhaven for forty years, Hooper has recently become a full-time resident of Maine. His professional career included government, philanthropic foundation and non-profit positions working on land conservation, regional planning, sustainable development and smart growth. He has also served on several non-profit boards.
Now retired, Hooper is happy to say he is spending much more time on Vinalhaven and much more time enjoying the outdoors and staying active.
Kristin Alley
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Kristin was born and raised on Vinalhaven. After graduating from Vinalhaven High School, she went on to attend the University of Maine at Machias and graduated with a business degree with a major in accounting. Shortly after graduating from college, she started working for Camden National Bank. She has also worked at Eldercare, J Edward Knight as a personal Iines agent and is currently working at Islands Community Medical Services. She is married to Brad Alley, a native fisherman and enjoys walking her dog and visiting with her neighbor.
Jack Myer
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Jack grew up near Boston and spent his childhood driving up 95 and Route 1 to see his grandparents in Maine. He started visiting friends on Vinalhaven during summer breaks from his work overseas in the field of humanitarian disaster response and eventually purchased a permanent home in town in 2009. He semi-retired from USAID in 2017 and has been a resident of Vinalhaven since then. Although he lived and traveled around the world for work and pleasure during his career, Vinalhaven is where his heart is. Jack continues to undertake work assignments overseas but is always happy to get home!
Dylan Jackson Executive Director
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A Timber Framer by trade and Bachelor of Architecture by training, Dylan has lived in small, hand made homes most of his life. He loves living on Vinalhaven, where he homesteads with his partner Annie and their collection of critters. Dylan enjoys getting out on the water, being a member of the volunteer fire department, and is proud to be the only guy with a cow on Vinalhaven.