Over the past 20 years, land in shoreline towns has steadily increased in value. This trend has meant that workers of low to moderate annual income for the area-the young teachers, public safety workers, service people and firefighters-have found it more and more difficult to find housing they can afford in the community where they work. And yet for many, including HOPE Partnership Board President Tony Lyons, what makes a small town like Old Saybrook a vibrant community is that it includes a diverse mix of incomes and ages.Retaining the community's rich mix was the motive behind a housing initiative begun in 2003 by area church leaders who were concerned about trends that saw families living long-term in area hotels. Tony was an early volunteer in the group.

Retaining the community's rich mix was the motive behind a housing initiative begun in 2003 by area church leaders who were concerned about trends that saw families living long-term in area hotels. Tony was an early volunteer in the group."HOPE Partnership is pretty unique. It's truly a grassroots organization that started from scratch with the help of grant funds from United Way and support from town leadership and [First Selectman] Michael Pace," Tony says.

"HOPE Partnership is pretty unique. It's truly a grassroots organization that started from scratch with the help of grant funds from United Way and support from town leadership and [First Selectman] Michael Pace," Tony says.Earlier this month, the town voted to approve a lease option with HOPE Partnership for a project to build 16 units of affordable housing on the town-owned 45 Ferry Road site. In a second project, HOPE Partnership in March will close on the purchase of a renovated, two unit house at 6 College Street. Once purchased, the group would resell the house with a deed-restricted first floor, affordable unit and a second floor two-bedroom unit that would be market-rate.

Earlier this month, the town voted to approve a lease option with HOPE Partnership for a project to build 16 units of affordable housing on the town-owned 45 Ferry Road site. In a second project, HOPE Partnership in March will close on the purchase of a renovated, two unit house at 6 College Street. Once purchased, the group would resell the house with a deed-restricted first floor, affordable unit and a second floor two-bedroom unit that would be market-rate. "We're hoping to find a single buyer for the house, perhaps a family with an elderly parent," Tony explains of one possible option.

"We're hoping to find a single buyer for the house, perhaps a family with an elderly parent," Tony explains of one possible option.To qualify under state income guidelines for a deed-restricted affordable housing unit in Old Saybrook, a family of four could earn up to $58,000 per year.

To qualify under state income guidelines for a deed-restricted affordable housing unit in Old Saybrook, a family of four could earn up to $58,000 per year.Lyons said he and his board are working to make the organization a regional non-profit developer that would be self-sustaining. First selectmen in both Westbrook and Clinton have already approached the group to explore cooperative efforts on housing.

Lyons said he and his board are working to make the organization a regional non-profit developer that would be self-sustaining. First selectmen in both Westbrook and Clinton have already approached the group to explore cooperative efforts on housing. HOPE Partnership is also planning fundraising efforts to help support hiring professional help.

HOPE Partnership is also planning fundraising efforts to help support hiring professional help."It's hard to rely solely on volunteers," Tony says.

"It's hard to rely solely on volunteers," Tony says. One fundraising event is a Dinner at the Bushnell Farm to be catered by River Tavern.

One fundraising event is a Dinner at the Bushnell Farm to be catered by River Tavern.For Tony, it was an incident last summer that helped remind him how critical is his mission-and that of HOPE Partnership-to add housing options for those who work in and serve this community but may not be able to afford to live in town.

For Tony, it was an incident last summer that helped remind him how critical is his mission-and that of HOPE Partnership-to add housing options for those who work in and serve this community but may not be able to afford to live in town. "I fell off a ladder at home last summer and I had to be taken by Life Star to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The town's volunteer firemen and ambulance drivers who responded were amazing," says Tony, who wondered what would have happened to him if those volunteers hadn't been nearby and able to respond so quickly. "This is a great community."

"I fell off a ladder at home last summer and I had to be taken by Life Star to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The town's volunteer firemen and ambulance drivers who responded were amazing," says Tony, who wondered what would have happened to him if those volunteers hadn't been nearby and able to respond so quickly. "This is a great community."Since 1998, he's worked as vice president and regional manager of National Equity Fund, Inc, an affiliate of Local Initiatives Support Corporation. This non-profit group matches private investors-often banks-that can benefit from affordable housing tax credits with developers who need financing for multi-family rental housing projects.

Since 1998, he's worked as vice president and regional manager of National Equity Fund, Inc, an affiliate of Local Initiatives Support Corporation. This non-profit group matches private investors-often banks-that can benefit from affordable housing tax credits with developers who need financing for multi-family rental housing projects. "I've worked on housing projects all over New England and New York and done projects in Guilford, Simsbury, and Cape Cod that fit into these communities and are successful," Tony explains.

"I've worked on housing projects all over New England and New York and done projects in Guilford, Simsbury, and Cape Cod that fit into these communities and are successful," Tony explains. Educated as an urban planner, Tony first worked on housing issues at the federal Housing and Urban Development agency before moving to a job working with a developer of housing projects in Philadelphia. Eleven years ago he moved to Old Saybrook to work as VP for National Equity Fund.

Educated as an urban planner, Tony first worked on housing issues at the federal Housing and Urban Development agency before moving to a job working with a developer of housing projects in Philadelphia. Eleven years ago he moved to Old Saybrook to work as VP for National Equity Fund. "I enjoy most the physical aspects of building and design, to see a tangible result of your work that you can point to," Tony says.

"I enjoy most the physical aspects of building and design, to see a tangible result of your work that you can point to," Tony says.With three boys in three different schools, Tony's free time has been as an involved parent: coaching soccer and Little League teams and attending high school musicals and sports events to support his boys.

With three boys in three different schools, Tony's free time has been as an involved parent: coaching soccer and Little League teams and attending high school musicals and sports events to support his boys. "I love being a dad," Tony says.

"I love being a dad," Tony says.