Today's story on the front of the Burlington Free Press, "Census sense: Housing, population data in Chittenden County crisscross," tells us what a lot of people working with housing data already knew: Numbers can be difficult to interpret.

Writer Joel Banner Baird ponders housing numbers that seem to be growing faster than population.

A new report by the Center for Housing Policy (CHP) says housing affordability has significantly decreased for working owners and renters.

The annual report, "Housing Landscape 2011," looks at housing affordability trends for working households between 2008 and 2009 focusing on the effects of employment, income and housing costs.

According to the report, nearly one in four working households had a severe housing cost burden in 2009, spending more than half of its income on housing costs.

The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct and prepare an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice for the State of Vermont in connection with the State’s programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Barbara Fields has become the new administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's (HUD) New England Region.

Fields was Executive Director of the Rhode Island office of Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC), a community development intermediary.

"Barbara's extensive knowledge of affordable housing and her comprehensive approach to community revitalization are a perfect complement to the Obama Administration," said HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan.