Eliza + Riley
Finally, A Chance to Breathe
For Eliza and Riley, Nantucket has always been more than an address, it is the place their families have called home for generations. Both trace their roots back to the 1930s, and much of their extended family still lives on the island today. Staying on Nantucket was always their dream, but as the housing crisis worsened, that future felt increasingly at risk.
The couple knew early on that securing land would be their biggest challenge. In 2020, after the passing of Riley’s grandparents, he and his sister were able to purchase a piece of family land. Though raw and undeveloped, it offered a rare opportunity to build a life on the island. Still, the cost of construction made the project feel out of reach, and they expected to hold the land for years before anything could be built.
Everything changed when they learned about a home available for relocation, a chance to participate in Housing Nantucket’s Covenant Program. It was an opportunity that aligned both financially and logistically, opening a doorway to stability they once doubted they’d find. The process moved quickly: the house became available in mid-August, and it needed to be off its original site by December. What followed was a sprint of phone calls, planning, permitting, and coordination.
Their journey quickly became a community effort. Friends, neighbors, and local professionals stepped forward to help them navigate each phase of the project, from excavation and site work to inspections and installation. Eliza described this support as one of the most unexpected and meaningful parts of the process.
“People just showed up for us,” said Eliza. “Not because they had to, but because they genuinely wanted to help us stay here. That kind of support is one of the most beautiful things about Nantucket.”
Both Eliza and Riley work deeply within the community, Eliza as the director of a local nonprofit serving children with special needs, and Riley as a private sports fisherman who has worked on island waters for a decade. Their roots, service, and connections made the growing network of support feel all the more natural. Tradespeople, mentors, and even acquaintances expressed excitement about helping the couple put down lasting roots.
Today, the house sits securely on its foundation, and for the first time, homeownership feels tangible. Years of uncertainty have been replaced with the promise of stability, and Eliza and Riley are looking forward to settling into a place that is truly their own.
“There’s such a sense of relief knowing we’ll have a stable, year-round home,” Eliza shared. “We won’t be moving every spring or storing our things in basements. We finally get to breathe.”
Their story reflects the resilience required to remain on Nantucket, creativity in navigating the housing landscape, patience through long periods of waiting, and a deep reliance on community. It also highlights the essential role of the Covenant Program in helping the next generation of year-round residents remain part of the island’s fabric.
Eliza and Riley are now looking forward to building their future on the same streets that shaped their family history. Their journey is a reminder that when residents are given the right tools, and when the community rallies around them, staying on Nantucket is still possible.
