A message from a member:  Hello fellow Realtors!

Many of you know me, Barney Stein, as a veteran agent at Lance Vermeulen Real Estate. I’m writing on behalf of Construct, a wonderful organization that plays a vital role in making the Southern Berkshires stronger and more socially vibrant. I am the co-chair of Mayfest 2019 and sit on the Real Estate Committee.  I ask that you take less than 2 minutes to read how you can make a meaningful difference in our beloved community…

We eat, sleep and breathe housing. But we sometimes forget how many fellow residents lack decent, affordable housing. Some of our neighbors can barely afford to live here.

We sing the praises of Berkshire life daily. But we sometimes forget that many of the folks who work here are barely hanging on. They are waitstaff, teachers, housecleaners, police officers, shop clerks, and so on. Berkshire life would fall apart without these folks, and yet they’re struggling—or worse, leaving— because can’t afford to live here.

Construct has been serving these folks for 50 years. It provided stability to hundreds of households last year. There is a lot to celebrate on this 50th anniversary! Yet, with over 500 on the waiting list—yes, 500 unstable families at this moment— it’s hard not to be frustrated at how much more is needed.

Construct is more than able to expand the life-saving services it provides every day—it simply needs meaningful support.

As housing experts, an alliance between Realtors and Construct seems so natural, doesn’t it? Shouldn’t local workers be given a fair shot at living in the Berkshires? If you agree, let’s be part of the solution. Below are a few ways you can help. If you can’t contribute financially, you can do a great service by spreading the word and singing the praises of this wonderful organization to your clients and anyone you know, which costs you nothing.

So many ways to participate…

• Become a 50th Anniversary Sponsor—you’ll be included in a journal that will be distributed at every Construct event throughout 2019. (Minimum donation is $250, and deadline is March 31 for this option.)  https://constructinc.org/sponsorship
• Come to Mayfest! The delicious variety of food and drink, plus a great dose of good cheer and camaraderie, is well worth the $95 ticket price, and it all goes to valuable Construct programs. Call the office or check the website in April for tickets.
• Buy a “brick” to support the brick campaign. https://constructinc.org/brick-campaign
• Participate in the Realtor Challenge issued by the agents at Lance Vermeulen Real Estate: Donate part of each transaction to Construct—whether it be $5 or $100. If every listing and selling side pitched in only $5 per transaction—South County Realtors would amass close to $5,000/year. To participate, please tell Barney Stein (barneyrealtor@gmail.com) or Mark Rosengren (mrosengren3@gmail.com).
• Make a contribution large or small at https://constructinc.org/donate.
• Get the word out!  Whether you make a contribution or not…..please take a few minutes to get the word out to your clients. Second homeowners may not realize how much instability there is in this idyllic place. Let’s educate them—and encourage them to invest in the viability and vibrancy of their second community. Below is a ready-to-forward letter which should make it easy to do just that—feel free to personalize/adjust it as you wish. Think of the impact, if every Realtor sent this to our client mailing list!

THANKS SO MUCH!

Barney Stein, REALTOR ®, GREEN barneyrealtor@gmail.com 617.504.0014 cell Lance Vermeulen Real Estate, Inc. 283 Main St., Great Barrington, MA

Sample Letter to Send:

Hello Berkshire Residents and Enthusiasts,

I’m writing on behalf of Construct, an organization that plays a vital role in making the Southern Berkshires stronger and more socially vibrant.

Don’t you love being surrounded by the beauty of this splendid landscape? All the outdoor activities? The amazing array of culture and good food? The charming towns? The cool people? We in the Berkshires are nourished—mind, body and soul!

But here’s a strange and troubling paradox: even in this vibrant and sought-after place, some of our neighbors are barely hanging on. They are waitstaff, teachers, housecleaners, police officers, shop clerks, and so on. Berkshire life would fall apart without these folks, and yet they’re struggling—or worse, leaving— because they lack decent, affordable housing.

Construct has been serving these folks for 50 years. It provided stability to hundreds of households last year. There is a lot to celebrate in this 50th anniversary year! Yet, with over 500 on the waiting list—yes, 500 unstable families at this moment— it’s hard not to be frustrated at how much more is needed.

Construct is more than able to expand the life-saving services it provides every day—it simply needs meaningful support.

Whether year-round or seasonal, whether property owners or visitors, we are so lucky! Shouldn’t local workers be given a fair shot at living in the Berkshires? Supporting Construct seems so natural, doesn’t it? If you would you like to make a meaningful difference in the lives of working people in the Berkshires, here are a few ways you can contribute to this wonderful organization. THANK YOU!

• Become a 50th Anniversary Sponsor—you’ll be included in a journal that will be distributed at every Construct event throughout 2019. (Minimum donation is $250, and deadline is March 31 for this option.) https://constructinc.org/sponsorship/
• Come to Mayfest! The delicious variety of food and drink, plus a great dose of good cheer and camaraderie, is well worth the $95 ticket price, and it all goes to valuable Construct programs. Check the website in April for tickets.
• Buy a “brick” at https://constructinc.org/brick-campaign/
• Make a contribution large or small at https://constructinc.org/donate/

Even if you can’t contribute financially, you can do a great service by forwarding this valuable information to your friends, neighbors, clients—any and everybody you know in the area.