I believe one of the most pressing challenges we face is ensuring that housing in our city remains accessible at every stage of life.
When rents and home prices climb faster than wages, Dover risks becoming a place only some can afford. That threatens the diversity and strength that define our community. Teachers, nurses, firefighters, small-business workers, and seniors on fixed incomes should not be forced to leave because housing costs push them out. If that happens, we lose more than residents—we lose the very character that makes Dover thrive. This is why I support affordable housing — where families spend no more than 30% of their income on housing costs, including rent or mortgage, utilities, and property taxes.
The Threat
Not long ago, I spoke with a Dover resident who works for a local nonprofit. She told me she spends more than 40 percent of her income just to rent an apartment. Colleagues of hers have to commute because they can’t find anything affordable nearby. That is not sustainable—for them or for our city.
This is not an isolated story. In Strafford County, less than 3 percent of housing is classified as affordable. Dover planners estimate the city needs more than 1,700 new housing units by 2035 just to meet demand. For some residents, that number feels like unsustainable or undesirable growth. But the reality is that not growing at least enough to meet demand has real costs:
| If We Don’t Build Enough Housing | What I Will Do as Councilor |
|---|---|
| Rents and home prices rise faster, squeezing families. | Support zoning changes to make building more expedient. |
| Fewer households share the tax base, raising property taxes per household. | Push the State to go beyond SB173 with stronger funding and infrastructure support. |
| Local businesses struggle to find workers who can afford to live nearby. | Encourage developers to use federal housing tax credits to make projects viable. |
| More traffic and commuting burdens as workers drive in from far away. | Seek City–developer partnerships so projects can move forward with shared responsibility. |
| Less diversity: fewer young families, fewer retirees able to stay, weaker community fabric. | Promote mixed-income development, support ADUs, and work with employers to keep the workforce close. |
Where We Stand
The City has already recognized this risk. Earlier this year, the Housing Committee delivered a report outlining clear steps: inclusionary zoning to guarantee affordable units in new developments, reducing minimum lot sizes to allow more housing options, and more.
At the same time, local organizations are stepping forward. Community Action Partnership (CAPSC) is advancing new affordable housing projects. Creative ideas like small-home communities and adaptive reuse of larger properties are beginning to take shape. These are promising developments, but they are not enough on their own.
Beyond those, how is the city doing? In a recent City Manager’s report, it was noted that of the 1,441 housing units currently in progress on Planning Board approved projects, only 6.6% are identified as “Attainable Units” — homes intended for middle-income households who earn too much to qualify for traditional subsidies but still struggle to afford market rates.
The State’s Role
Dover cannot solve this challenge by itself. The State has a responsibility too. Legislation like SB173, which expands the InvestNH Housing Fund to support affordable housing projects, is a step in the right direction. But alone, it is not enough. Without sustained state partnership—through funding, zoning support, and infrastructure investment—local communities will be left to carry a burden too heavy to bear.
Cities like Dover need the tools to move projects forward, but we also need state leaders who understand that affordable housing is a statewide economic issue. If workers can’t afford to live in New Hampshire, businesses will struggle to grow, and communities like ours will suffer.
What I Believe
I believe Dover must remain a city where young people can start out, families can put down roots, and older residents can age in place with dignity. Housing is not just an economic issue—it is about fairness, stability, and community strength. The choices we make now will decide whether Dover is a city for everyone, or a city for only some. I am committed to making sure it’s the former.
The City Council’s top goal for 2024–25 is expanding diverse housing, and many of the conditions I’ve described in this article are part of that effort. Progress is being made, but it’s happening in baby steps — development takes time, and the units underway aren’t keeping pace with the urgency of the problem. The Council must work closely with Dover’s management team and the business community to accelerate results.
