Building Homes Together  was launched yesterday. It is a collaboration of organizations and communities seeking to remedy some of the most pressing challenges in Chittenden County’s housing market.

“The housing shortage in Chittenden County has been well noted with unhealthy vacancy rates and high rents,” added Charlie Baker, Executive Director of the Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission. “Employers can’t find workers, and workers themselves spend more time in commutes and with a higher percentage of their paychecks on housing costs.” 

Together over 100 individuals representing local municipalities, institutions, employers, bankers, builders, and others -- including VHFA -- have signed on to support this effort.

A modest, two-bedroom apartment costs $1,099, according to the annual Out of Reach report from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition. In order to afford this level of rent and utilities — without paying more than 30% of income on housing — a household must earn an hourly “housing wage” of $21.13—far more than Vermont’s minimum wage of $9.60 or the average wage among the state’s renters ($11.79).

“I want more...” explains VHFA’s Director of Policy and Administration Maura Collins in a recent letter to the editor of the Essex Reporter. Collins is a long-time resident of Essex Junction who felt it was time to share her ideas about future expansion of the Junction’s housing stock and population.

“We see beauty in the new faces, appreciate the increasing diversity of housing types and residents, and want to champion thoughtful growth…. We want more...” writes Collins.

As the fog lifted over a brilliant Lake Champlain, eight VHFA-ers raced to the finish line Saturday morning at the Colchester Causeway 5k & 15k Race. Joe Erdelyi, Brittany Garland and Sara Everest showed their endurance with flying colors in the 15k race, while the rest of us happily reached our 5k goals. Saturday’s race capped a multi-month C25K (“couch to 5k”) agency wellness initiative organized by Office Manager Lori Gilding earlier this spring.  Marathoner Robin Howe from VHFA's Development and Multifamily Management departments handed out much-appreciated cups of water along the route.

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