Island Housing Trust receives $10K donation through Knowles Co. rental program
Courtesy / Knowles Co.
Members of the Knowles rental department asked clients to donate a portion of their rental earnings to the Island Housing Trust.
Island Housing Trust said it received more than $10,600 in donations through a partnership with the Knowles Co. in Northeast Harbor.
Through Knowles' rental department, homeowners who offer their Mount Desert Island homes for rent agreed to donate a portion of their earnings to support Island Housing Trust’s mission of providing housing opportunities to the island’s workforce.
Jason Briggs, an IHT board member and summer resident of Northeast Harbor, suggested the idea to the Knowles rental agents. Because Knowles is committed to sustainable communities on MDI, it moved the idea forward.
"When Jason suggested that rental income could be used to support IHT, it seemed like a no-brainer,” said Kate Chaplin, listing and rental agent at Knowles and a minority owner. “Providing homeowners with such an easy method to donate directly from their earnings allows them to give back to the MDI community meaningfully and seamlessly.”
Chaplin and her team reached out to their clients and promoted the program online and in promotional materials to tenants. Many homeowners agreed to participate in the new program and others donated privately.
“I knew there was a lot of community support for workforce housing on MDI and the tremendous response of homeowners showed they care about the mission of Island Housing Trust and want it to succeed,” said Briggs.
IHT Executive Director Marla O’Byrne said the partnership showed there are many ways local businesses can support communities and IHT.
“Knowles has pioneered a new way of giving back, making it easy for homeowners to support our organization,” she said. “We hope to continue to work with Knowles and welcome other ideas to support year-round housing for MDI’s workforce.”
The Knowles Co. is the oldest real estate company on MDI, founded by Belle Smallidge Knowles in 1898. For 125 years, the community has always been a priority, and Knowles brokers and agents continue in the tradition of contributing time and financial support to the island’s communities and organizations.
IHT’s Coming Home Campaign has raised over $3.5 million for workforce housing opportunities.
Since 2003, Island Housing Trust has completed 54 homeownership projects serving over 150 adults and children on Mount Desert Island. IHT holds covenants on 43 homes and has overseen the successful re-sale of several of these properties at below-market prices to qualified households working on MDI.
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