If you work in Sister Bay and have always wanted to live there, the Village of Sister Bay wants to talk to you.
A public input session scheduled for Saturday is the next step in the process for the village, which worked with Stantec Consulting earlier this year to complete a housing plan. The data collected by the United Way of Door County paints a picture of the need for affordable housing in the area. Fifty-three percent of Sister Bay’s households are in poverty or fall under the Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE line), the highest percentage of all Door County communities. The American Community Survey data showed that almost 60 percent of renter households are considered cost-burdened as the average rent costs have risen in recent years. The village’s median household income has declined over the past decade.
Village administrator Julie Schmelzer says, “we are at a point that if we don’t do something, we are going to lose the workers we need to make our community a place people want to visit or raise a family. Without housing, we will lose our service workers, and they’ll eventually relocate to other areas with housing options.”
The Saturday session, which is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to noon at the Sister Bay/Liberty Grove Fire Station, is designed to hear from area workers who want to live in Sister Bay and tell the village and its consultant what they want and need and how much they can afford. Advance registration is required by emailing Village Clerk Heidi Teich or calling Village Hall.
Area businesses are expected to meet after the session to learn more about the workforce issue and how they can play a role in addressing housing concerns.
