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House Our Workforce Now
By Bob Ferris

In my book, one of the most basic tenets of a sustainable lifestyle is living where you work. Conversely, driving great distances and burning largely imported fuel that compromises our health and climate is not. These two observations beg the question: With 70 percent of our workforce commuting into the Valley, can we possibly consider ourselves sustainable without solving this problem? The answer to the question is that we cannot.

The above is my view but other sustainability advocates might look at this thorough a different lens. They could define this desirable state of continuance in terms of the triple-bottom line — a full-cost accounting scheme that looks simultaneously at economics, the environment, and social equity. The basic point being that you could be getting rich through a particular venture but if you are polluting the environment or if it is done at the expense of one set of people it is not sustainable now and certainly less so in the future. Here again, our commuting workforce likely makes us unsustainable from environmental and social perspectives.

If the whole concept of sustainability does not float your boat, there are other arguments for keeping your workforce close at hand. Speaking as one who traded in big saddle sores for little foot blisters, my attitude towards life and work has changed immeasurably since I switched from long distance commuter to walker. My altered attitude — and that of others — likely translates into higher productivity, less sick days and a greater willingness to plant myself and stay in my current position.

Wearing my employer hat, I see true value in short commutes for all because my attitude and productivity are absolutely influenced by the joy or lack there of exhibited by those around me. I also, like most employers, smile outwardly but wince on the inside when employees call in sick. And my life would certainly be somewhat less complicated if I was saved from jumping into the recruitment pool a few times by happy and satisfied employees who stick around and obtain personal growth by growing their jobs and their responsibilities rather than taking the exit ramp.

Add to these arguments the thoughts of NPR commentator Juan Williams who spoke recently at an affordable housing conference in Burlington. The thrust of Mr. Williams' presentation was that the growing gap between the have nots and the haves was a smoking powder keg with the potential to rend the fabric of society. He made it clear that taking steps to make the American dream more achievable to more people was excellent preventative medicine.

So what do we need to do to get the affordable housing we need? Lots. First, we need to re-look at our housing stock with an eye towards more people in less space. How many 2000 square foot-plus houses could become duplexes or even tri-plexes? Which above-garage storage spaces could become serviceable apartments and which barns could be re-tooled for comfortable human occupation?

In addition, we also need to densify our town centers and be more open to alternatives such as co-housing or multi-family kitchens. And to make all of this work we need transportation systems that encourage single car families and make walking a pleasure as well as creative ways to deal with wastes that do not overtax our natural systems.

Most importantly, we need to find funding sources to do this and more. Public funding needs to be developed along with tax incentives, revolving loan funds and an increased vibrancy in the non-profit sector. Employers too have to realize that investments in affordable housing from their own coffers or from public funds make sense for their futures.

In short, we need to do for our workforce what we are trying to do for our food and energy security — relocalize it. The good news is that it takes creativity and flexibility which we appear to have in abundance. And we have to simply be our own generous and accepting selves by graciously inviting and welcoming our economically exiled brethren.