Talbot County has housing — just look around. So why are so many local workers and families without a permanent place to call home? Team TIS has been out in the community digging into that question, and the answer is more complex than it appears.
In his recent interview with The Spy, Ross Benincasa, Vice Chair of our Board and Fello’s Senior Vice President of Community Development, explains that the issue isn’t the number of homes — it’s the mismatch between what exists and what local workers can afford. Talbot County has a large population, but many residents are retirees, meaning the workforce is smaller than it looks. And many of the people who do work here can’t afford to live here. Add in identical impact fees whether you build a camper or a large home, and you end up with almost no starter homes and very few options for families trying to get stable.
Ross also shares how Fello Communities is responding: setting aside 30% of low‑income units without vouchers or tax credits and partnering with organizations like Talbot Interfaith Shelter to support families and individuals transitioning out of homelessness.