Lewis Estabrooks on over 25 years of providing affordable housing in Sackville
It’s hard to find places to live in Sackville, and in particular affordable places. An increasing population and in-migration is taking rental homes off the market. At least one building housing several units is slated for demolition. And Harper Hall, which normally houses somewhere in the range of 150-200 students, is closed for renovations in 2022. Combine those local factors with rising rental costs across the province and country, and that means the squeeze is on, especially for people on low to medium incomes.
But there are some rental units in Sackville that are resilient to rental increases and housing market ups and downs: four units in two buildings operated by Sackville and Area Housing, a not-for-profit group that has provided subsidized housing to Sackville residents since 1988.
For decades Lewis Estabrooks served as president of Sackville and Area Housing, sometimes using his skills as an accountant to manage the bills and mortgage payments, and sometimes contributing pure elbow grease to clean and paint units to prepare them for new tenants. In March, MLA Megan Mitton recognized Estabrooks for his service in the provincial legislature, calling out his “dedication and contributions to the Sackville community.”
This month, CHMA paid a visit to Lewis Estabrooks to ask him about his time with Sackville and Area Housing, which continues to this day. The 87-year-old is the vice president of the group, working with current president Alf Walker.… Continue