Sustaining a Balanced, Economically Diverse Community

Like other islands in the San Juan archipelago, Orcas enjoys a world-class reputation as a travel destination. But with that distinction come challenges: a seasonal service economy with low-paying jobs, rental housing that is expensive and often available only part of the year, many off-island owners and increasingly high property values that are out of reach for local wage-earners.

By acquiring land and creating permanently affordable homes for individuals and families with lower incomes, OPAL Community Land Trust is helping our island community remain balanced and whole—with young and old, working and retired, and a wide range of incomes.

We make it possible for people who are essential to our community’s well-being—teachers, shopkeepers, nurses, construction workers, deputies, EMTs—to afford to own a home despite today’s high prices. Island children can thrive in our stable, safe neighborhoods. Human energy spent struggling with short-term or inadequate housing can be put to more productive uses that benefit us all.

OPAL neighborhoods are currently home to 120 Orcas families (nearly 5% of the estimated full-time residences on the island). When they bought their OPAL homes, the adults of these families had lived in the county an average of more than 15 years. The number of children in OPAL homes over the past four years has been between 10 and 12% of the total school age population on the island.

Best of all, today’s investment in affordable housing will benefit the Orcas community for generations to come because of the way the community land trust model works (see Method).

An interview with Michael Sky on Peak Moment T.V. reveals some of the core principles and early history of OPAL.

“Stable housing has been shown to contribute to students’ school attendance, attitude and performance. The largest cause of families leaving the island is lack of affordable housing.” —Barry Acker, former Orcas school superintendent