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."

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.

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.

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.