Plans were made over two years ago to make renovations to Applegate Apartments, located in Bennington, VT. It's one of Vermont's largest affordable housing developments and threatened by rising fuel costs before improvements were made. The complex paid $175,000 a year on fuel costs, which required rent to rise, and owners were worried that tenants would not be able to keep up.

Last week, the Applegate community celebrated the addition of a new "central biomass plant" which replaced the need for 23 oil burners - one for each building. The project also included a insulated underground pipeline that delivers hot water to all of the buildings.

VHFA has three immediate job openings: Development Underwriter, Business Development Coordinator and Research and Communications Coordinator. 

Caño Martín Peña, a sister community land trust to Vermont's own Champlain Housing Trust, needs our help to rebuild the homes it operates for 26,000 lower income San Juan residents. 

September's hurricanes have left these homes partly or completely destroyed. Donations will be used to buy construction materials and replace furniture and goods for those who have lost everything.

The Caño residents won last year's United Nations / BSHF World Habitat Award for their Community Land Trust -- joining the Champlain Housing Trust as a past award recipient.

Vermont Governor Phil Scott joined legislative and housing leaders in a press conference last week to update the public on the first year progress of the Building Homes Together campaign.

Goal

In an effort to increase the availability of affordable homes in Vermont, Champlain Housing Trust teamed up with Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission and Housing Vermont to set a goal of 3,500 new homes within 5 years, with 20% of them being permanently affordable.