For many people who work on Sanibel and Captiva, the summer slowdown can mean fewer customers, fewer work hours and smaller paychecks.
For one local household, the slowdown brought a sharp reduction in work hours at the same time the family was dealing with an unexpected medical emergency. With household income temporarily reduced, keeping up with monthly rent became difficult.
The family was taking steps to improve its financial situation but needed help getting through the immediate gap. After completing FISH’s intake process and providing required documentation, the household qualified for rental assistance through the organization’s Helping Hands program. The program is supported, in part, through grant funding from The Sanctuary Golf Club Foundation.
The family’s situation has since begun to improve, with one household member securing employment and another continuing to work on Sanibel. Their experience, though, reflects a challenge that can come with working in a seasonal island economy. Sanibel and Captiva businesses continue to rebuild and adjust following the hurricanes of 2022 and 2024, while also managing the natural changes in customer traffic throughout the year.
When business slows, the effects can reach employees quickly. Fewer shifts or reduced hours can mean a smaller paycheck, and a household that had been keeping up with expenses may suddenly have trouble covering rent, groceries and other everyday needs.
FISH’s Neighbor Network gives island employers a simple way to help employees learn about available resources. Participating businesses receive information about FISH programs, services and events that can be shared during onboarding, posted in break rooms or placed in other employee spaces. The goal is to help workers know where they can turn when they need support. Businesses can also display a “Proudly Helping Our Island Neighbors” window sticker, showing employees, customers and the community that they are part of a network helping keep the island workforce informed and connected.
“Every business knows the unique challenge of operating on an island: recruiting and retaining employees takes intention and effort,” said Ashley Price, FISH Director of Philanthropic Giving, during a recent Greater Fort Myers and Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce luncheon sponsored by FISH. “That’s exactly why we launched Neighbor Network. We want employees to know where they can turn when they need support, while giving businesses another resource to support the people who help keep our islands running.”
To learn how you can support the efforts that help island residents, business and workforce reach out to Ashley Price at ashley@fishofsancap.org or Maria Espinoza, Executive Director, maria@fishofsancap.org.
The connection between employers, workers and available resources becomes especially important when household income changes unexpectedly. “When businesses have fewer customers or need to reduce hours, employees can feel that very quickly in their paychecks,” Price said. “For a household already working within a tight budget, even a temporary reduction can make it difficult to cover rent. FISH looks at the full situation and, when a household qualifies and funding is available, can help them get through that period while they work toward stability.”
For the household that recently received rental assistance, that support provided time to regroup while employment and income improved. “We were working hard, but the loss of hours and a medical emergency put us in a position where we could not keep up with everything,” the client shared in a written testimonial. “The rent assistance gave us the help we needed to keep a roof over our heads while we worked to get back on our feet.”
FISH works with Sanibel and Captiva residents and members of the island workforce experiencing financial hardship through its Helping Hands program. Assistance is based on household circumstances, eligibility, available funding and completion of FISH’s intake and documentation process. Depending on individual circumstances and available resources, assistance may help with housing, utilities and other essential needs.
Island businesses interested in participating in Neighbor Network can contact Simon Robson at FISH to learn more. For information about FISH programs, eligibility or available assistance, call 239-472-4775 or visit fishofsancap.org.
