Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) has received a World Habitat Award from UN HABITAT.
The United Nations agency, whose goal is to promote shelter for people worldwide, will present CHT officials with the award at its World Habitat Day event, Oct. 6 in Luanda, Angola.
UN HABITAT presents two such awards a year — one in the northern hemisphere and another in the southern — to recognize "practical and innovative solutions to current housing needs and problems."
News of the award was announced this morning at an event held at the Vermont Transit Bus Barns property on South Winooski Avenue, Burlington.
CHT staff and Board members, Sen. Bernie Sanders, Rep. Peter Welch, current and former Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss and Peter Clavelle, VHFA's Sarah Carpenter and VHCB's Gus Seelig attended the event, held at the site of a significant urban renewal project completed in 2001, which created 25 permanently affordable apartments. (Sen. Patrick Leahy had a scheduling conflict Monday morning, but sent along his well wishes.)
Two judges from UN HABITAT visited Vermont in April to meet CHT staff, Board members, residents and partners.
CHT CEO Brenda Torpy said the organization was "honored to be recognized among the best of the best, and we are thrilled to have this award to share with all of our partners that are so committed to permanently affordable housing."
Brenda was a founder of CHT, first known as the Burlington Community Land Trust, who joined the staff in 1991.
Learn more about CHT at the CHT Web site.
Some of the speakers at today's event: Sen. Bernie Sanders, Sarah Carpenter, Gus Seelig, and Brenda Torpy.