Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) presented VHFA Controller Tim Gutchell (right) with the Carole Pack Award at its annual meeting a couple weeks ago.

The award recognizes Tim's "leadership and dedicated oversight of the housing trust’s finances through challenging economic times when each dollar was critical."

“Tim provides the Board with a level of confidence that is so important to the organization,” explained CHT President Paul Bohne.

Tim is pictured with CHT immediate past president Randy Amis. (Photo: Brett Lupfer)

According to last week’s release of Census 2010 results, no Vermont county was spared the population growth slowdown that occurred in the state during the past 10 years.

In fact, three counties (Rutland, Windsor, and Essex) lost population in the most recent decade.

Chittenden County’s population grew by 7% during 2000 and 2010, more than any other county in the state. The fastest growing town in the state was South Burlington with population growth of 20% between 2000 and 2010.

Vacancies figures for Vermont released yesterday might give a false impression of the amount of available housing in the Green Mountain State.

New numbers from the 2010 U.S. Census show Vermont has a 20.5 percent vacancy rate. While that number may be accurate, the devil's in the details: That statistic includes Vermont's substantial stock of "vacation" homes — units that may, in fact, have no one living in them year-round, but are also unavailable for sale or rental.

For many practical purposes, they'd be more accurately considered "occupied."

Our friends across the street at Champlain Housing Trust are featured in The American Prospect magazine.

The (substantial) article, titled "The Rent Trap," explores issues of renting, homeownership and shared equity housing.

Founded in 1990, The America Prospect is a monthly magazine "of liberal ideas, committed to a just society, an enriched democracy, and effective liberal politics."

Read the article online.