By Mary Close Oppenheimer
My husband and I have been residents of Lakeville for over 30 years. Our love for this marvelous town of Salisbury deepened after we became full-time residents about 15 years ago and acquainted with more people in the community. Through them we’ve learned of the commitment and sacrifice of volunteers to the fire and emergency services. We’ve learned of the extraordinary work being done by so many of our local nonprofits. Behind each of these organizations our neighbors commit countless hours to enhance the lives of others. We’ve seen how people go out of their way to help their neighbors, family and friends.
As we’ve gotten to know Salisbury better, we have also come to learn how difficult life can be for some full-time residents. It is an inescapable fact that land and housing costs have risen far faster than wages. There is more poverty here than many people realize. We’ve seen the town population age and school populations decrease year after year. We’ve seen the town change as the cost of housing has forced young people and local workers to seek affordable housing elsewhere. As a result, we’ve learned of the struggle local businesses, volunteer services and non-profits experience due to the shortage of local workers and of the hardship long commutes place on many of the people who work here.
A few years ago, I wrote a number of articles about how the cost of housing affects our community. The situation has not improved although some opportunities to address our needs are in the works. Many people have shared their personal stories with me. The Lakeville Journal has generously agreed to print some new stories in the coming weeks. Salisbury residents love our town and want it to thrive now and for future generations. In reading these stories, I hope people will see that we all have a common interest in expanding our housing options to ensure that young people can afford to stay in town, that workers who keep our town functioning are able to live here and that seniors can find a manageable, affordable home in their retirement. We can succeed if we work together as the caring community we have always been.
Mary Close Oppenheimer is a local artist who has been part of the Lakeville/Salisbury community for 30 years. Her love of the town and concern for its future have motivated her to learn about and share with her neighbors how local housing costs impact the town’s economic future and the people who live and work here.
This article was published in The Lakeville Journal on 6/13/19.