The island’s food bank is undergoing transition, with Executive Director Robbie Rohr retiring and former employee Emily Scott returning to step into that role. As she leaves her position, Rohr reflected on some of the changes she has seen in the community — and how those changes bring people to the food bank. They are worth highlighting here, as we grapple as a community with boom times in the Northwest, a contributing factor to current changes on the island.

Last year, the food bank served more than 1,300 children, youth and adults; that is one out of every nine Vashon residents and one out of every seven households. At the Vashon Island School district more than 20% of students are eligible for free or reduced lunch. Half of those who use the food bank are children and seniors.

Rohr cited a combination of unaffordable housing, slim employment opportunities coupled with part-time work hours, high taxes and expensive childcare as contributing to the complexities people with low and moderate incomes face here — and the food insecurity that often develops as a result.

Among these issues, it seems only the housing picture is slated for change in the somewhat near future. Currently, there are two housing developments in the works, one north of town, developed by Vashon’s Shelter America group, likely opening in 2021 and the other, proposed by Vashon HouseHold, expected to begin construction next year. They both have supporters and critics, but combined, with 80 units of various sizes planned, they will only partially address the need for affordable housing on the island.

In 2017, King County led a Community Service Area planning effort on Vashon, replacing a decade old Town Plan for the island. At that time, the estimates were that 100 to 120 new affordable dwelling units were needed to meet housing demand. It is disheartening to know that these two new projects, creating both hope and disharmony in the community, and with a combined $7 million from the county, will still not fully address the affordable housing need.

What then?

Rohr, citing the many challenges on the island, called for intention and action.

“We need to be smart, recognizing that as a community if we want to thrive into the future — which of course we do — then we need to be proactive in addressing all of these things,” she said.

We agree with her and hope that forward-looking islanders will band together — or become more visible if they have not already done so — and systematically and creatively begin to look for solutions to some of the most pressing issues.

Just last week, on a community Facebook page, someone asked if it is a right or privilege to live on Vashon. The responses, more than 300, flooded in. It is an interesting question, and as islanders ask it to themselves now and in the future, we hope the answers will accommodate an eclectic group — farmers and doctors, nurses and tech wizards, baristas and lawyers, retired people and young children, comfortably at home here on the island in the sound.

It will require dedication and innovation to make that happen, and we believe islanders are up to the task.