Howard: The most thankful time of the year
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it’s not about big fanfare. The whole holiday is about eating, obviously, but also gathering, connecting and finding a little downtime before the final rush to the end of the year. In my house, that means lots of football watching, eating and a little turkey trotting with my three favorites.
This anticipation has me thinking about how fortunate I am to have a home where I can create memories with my family.
It’s not lost on me how hard it is to afford a home here now. It was a stretch when we bought our house over 20 years ago. Between two young career professionals, it was doable on the income earned from jobs in the community. The conversation was more about the amount of square footage for the cost — our parents back east thought we were nuts. Now, we could not afford to buy the same house, especially considering our salaries at that point in our lives.
I worry about the many who feel hopeless in their effort to put down roots in our community — the next generation who are working but feel defeated. The young to mid-career professionals who are working so hard but don’t see a path to homeownership, which means they can’t afford to settle down here and build a life. I worry about the effects it has on our community.
This is a nationwide question. Young adults are launching later — the average age of a first-time homebuyer is 40, according to the National Association of Realtors. Factors include the inability to save for a down payment when rent consumes most of a paycheck (the average rent in Eagle County is $1,500 per room per month) and student loan debt, the lack of affordable or starter homes and higher mortgage rates. It’s not that “they don’t want to buy a home,” something I hear often. It’s that they can’t make it work.
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We all want — need — nurses, educators, law enforcement officers, electricians and plumbers. And they show up for us, both at their work and in our community. They help coach your kid’s soccer, volunteer for PTA, and give time in their towns.
How can young professionals settle down here and build a life? I feel like we don’t have any shortage of young, excited, hopeful workers coming to the mountains for a season. When they arrive, as I did, they are stoked for the ski season, the fresh powder, meeting friends, and living with roommates. It’s part of the adventure. But give them a few years, and they want to move out with their partner, buy a house, and settle down. I worry they can’t. And it feels more personal because I have young adults who are thinking about their lives after college.
I saw a debate on social media recently that people don’t “deserve” a home just because they want to live here. I truly believe that if someone wants to work hard and build a life, they add to our community fabric and deserve a safe, affordable home. I am not talking about a gift! I am talking about helping people who are already doing so much to get by here — help them thrive. If we want this valley to survive, we need to work together to create a pathway to homeownership.
There are so many reasons why a home is essential. Families who spend too much of their income on housing often make critical trade-offs: An affordable mortgage allows them to budget for health care, groceries, and after-school activities. Growing up in a decent, affordable home can have a powerful effect on children and improve academic outcomes.
I have hope because we have a caring, connected community. Over the next few years, we’re working with Eagle County School District to build 10 homes; Timber Ridge in Vail has more than 300 units for our critical workforce (and 30 Habitat families are part of that number), and we’ll be building in Eagle and Minturn. We’re not out of the crisis by any means, but it does feel like we are working together for our community.
I often joke about my tiny home, but it’s perfect for my large-in-stature family. As I sit down for turkey on Thanksgiving with my family, I am going to be a little more grateful. Together, we’re building community.
Elyse Howard is the vice president of community affairs and philanthropy at Habitat for Humanity Vail Valley, where she connects with community members across the county and beyond. Reach out to learn more.
