This letter is in response to the feeble efforts of Habitat for Humanity to house people; i.e,: Take the issue of the 10-plus acres on Talbot Street in Rockland where Habitat is building a few housing units. 

For this project, Habitat destroyed a “natural environment” in the city that was the home of many fireflies and other helpful insects and wildlife; cities need pockets of nature to thrive.  A city without the areas for nature is a city that does not support healthy human life…birds, insects, a few skunks, a fox or two living in Rockland in close proximity to humans is healthy. 

I have just returned from Stockholm where there are apartments that house many people together.  You can see this type of housing all over Europe. Habitat insists on building a type of housing that can only house a few instead of many.  Rockland is a city with some seriously decrepit worn-out large housing structures that are way beyond their due date.  Their demise is spewing toxic particles in the air we breathe and forcing people reside in neighborhoods with blight that destroys property values and creates ugly living conditions. 

In Europe, I saw new infill housing in cities being constructed from shipping containers and prefabricated building materials; zero “tiny” houses. 

Houses require extensive maintenance (they have four distinct sides and a roof).  People living together is inexpensive compared to single family housing and the maintenance is done by professionals and included in the rent.  Many of these units are owned and managed on an “ability to pay basis”. 

The business model that Habitat insists on will never house the numbers of people that could be well-housed for generations in apartments/condos. Habitat seems to have *plenty of money but they don’t spend it to maximize the housing needs for the greatest number of people.  Every human deserves clean, safe housing.

*Everyone in the Midcoast should view the Talbot Ave Habitat For Humanity construction project and please note the extensive destruction of a natural environment and the cost for infrastructure to enable the housing of a few people. 

Nancy Sullivan lives in Rockland