Raising the Roof for Affordable Housing

Philippe Jordi wants everyone to be able to enjoy the Island, affordably.

Jordi is the executive director for the Island Housing Trust, a non-profit organization that has been working with the Island’s six towns for around 10 years, trying to acquire land and create permanent affordable homes.

“Hundreds of people have submitted their names,” Jordi said. “There’s a lot of people who basically can’t find year-round rentals, or are shut out of market-rate housing because of the extremely high costs on the island. Even with the recession prices, it’s still unattainable for most working families on their own.”

“There’s always a need,” said Jordi.

Meeting that need requires funds. So the Island Housing Fund and its sister organization, , are staging a benefit concert. The concert will take place Tuesday, July 5, at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Mackenzie Wasner and her father Pete, a singer-songwriter for Vince Gill, will be performing at the concert with special guest and Vineyard native son Willy Mason, who opened for Norah Jones in Switzerland last summer.

Tickets are available online at www.ticketsmv.com/roof or in person at in Edgartown, in Vineyard Haven, and in Oak Bluffs and West Tisbury. General admission is $50; patron admission is $100 with an artists reception after the show. 

“It’s a perfect place for an acoustic show,” Jordi said. “It’s going to be really sweet."