Shelburne News Question 2: Housing
Shelburne News Question 2: Affordable housing in Chittenden County, and specifically Shelburne, is not available in sufficient supply to meet the demand. What measures are you prepared to take to address this need in our community?
“Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Housing and Wages in Vermont” is an annual report issued by the Vermont Housing Council and Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign. The 2008 edition pointed out significant gaps between the median purchase price of a home and median wages. Sixty five percent of Vermont’s households have incomes below $65,000, which is the amount needed to purchase the median priced home of $201,000. Prices in Shelburne are presumably higher.
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund is our primary vehicle for funding affordable housing. It ensures that not only is affordable housing created, it remains perpetually affordable. In addition to housing, the Trust also helps to preserve open space so that our landscapes are not turned into apartment buildings, agricultural land can remain in agriculture, and historic sites are preserved.
The 2008 Legislature passed a comprehensive housing bill that increases tax credits and financing capacity for affordable housing through VHFA. This bill also created the “Vermont Neighborhoods” program, which streamlines the creation of housing in town centers with access to transportation and services. Shelburne village has been designated a “Village Center” and should consider participating in this program as it addresses the need for housing development while protecting our natural environments.
Shelburne has made some important progress in creating affordable rental apartments and home ownership through its work with the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT). HomeShare Vermont enables Shelburne elders and people with disabilities to remain living in dignity in their homes by bringing them together with people who seek affordable housing and care giving opportunities.
To keep affordable housing viable, I would support continued funding of the Vermont Housing Conservation Board. As Shelburne’s liaison to the legislature, I would work collaboratively with town officials to address this important issue.
