Affordable housing is a big topic these days, and for good reason: Vashon’s median monthly rent is around $3000, and typical home prices are skyrocketing above $800,000.

For someone making a local wage, those prices are insurmountable.

Rising housing prices are not just a problem for the people who can’t afford them; they also affect the diversity and wonderful creativity of our community.

The people who work at Thriftway, Island Market, all our restaurants and retail stores; the artists who contribute to the richness of our culture; the caregivers who ensure that we can get healthcare without taking a ferry — ultimately, the cost of housing impacts us all.

Vashon Household (VHH) is making measurable strides to solve our housing crisis. We’re creating affordable, quality homes for the working people who make this island run, as well the people on the margins, many of whom are living in tents, trailers and other substandard conditions. Our goal is to double our housing portfolio by 2035.

We’re off to a good start with the opening of Island Center Homes (ICH) in December. ICH is a 40-unit project providing housing for veterans, people who have experienced homelessness, people engaged in the behavioral health system, people with developmental disabilities and/or seniors.

More than 200 people attended the ICH open house on December 7, and on December 12, we welcomed regional and state elected officials, local social-service leaders and donors to a ribbon cutting. We’re gratified by the outpouring of support and encouragement.

The apartments will open soon, but we will take time to place residents thoughtfully so that they feel welcomed, safe, and stable in their new homes. We expect ICH to be fully occupied by the end of March. If you’d like to donate household items to ICH’s new residents or volunteer to help them move, please visit Vashon HouseHold’s Facebook page for updates.

Looking into the future, we want to build well-designed, affordable homes for working people. But first we need to purchase land, preferably close to the town core. If you know of anyone who might be interested in offering an affordable land deal to Vashon Household, please let us know!

We’d also like to add 25 more HomeShare matches between people who have extra space in their homes with those who need housing. To date, we have matched 25 islanders, increasing the number of affordable rentals from 128 to 153. These matches have been overwhelmingly successful, often allowing people who might not otherwise be able to live alone to stay at home with a caring housemate.

In March, we will host our second annual Community Housing Forum, connecting Vashon residents with diverse viewpoints from housing experts, countywide elected leaders, and regional media to envision together how the island can continue to address our affordability crisis, building upon the tangible policy recommendations coming out of our first community housing forum — many of which were included in new regulations and legislation.

We’ve got a lot of work ahead, and our goal of doubling affordable housing in 10 years is an ambitious one. However, living on this island for 26 years, I’ve seen remarkable visions realized. It’s amazing what this community can do if we work together.

If you’d like to help us reach our goal, you can begin by making a tax-deductible donation to Vashon HouseHold this holiday season. It’s easy: just visit our website: vashonhousehold.org/donate. We’d also love to see you at the Community Housing Forum in March.

Together, we can preserve a culture that celebrates economic diversity and is truly equitable, accessible, affordable and livable for everyone.

Anne Atwell is the president of the Vashon HouseHold Board of Directors.