We want to share some important information from the Vermont Economic Services Division regarding SNAP/Food Stamp benefits and local food resources for Addison County residents.

Due to the federal government shutdown, SNAP benefits were expected to stop on November 1, 2025. However, we received an update today from Economic Services with details on how the State of Vermont is responding to support residents who rely on these benefits.

Here’s what you need to know:

• EBT cards with existing balances will remain active — you will still be able to use any remaining funds.
• New SNAP benefits will not be issued by the federal government at this time. However, the State of Vermont has agreed to release benefits for the first 15 days of November using state funds. The exact release date has not been confirmed yet, but it will likely not be on November 1st.
• The State of Vermont will allocate $250,000 in state funds to local food shelves to increase food supply for Vermonters.
• Once Economic Services finalizes their plan, they will issue a press release and send robocalls and text messages directly to SNAP recipients.

As soon as Addison Housing Works receives the official press release from Economic Services, we will share it with residents by email.

If you have questions or need support with food access or benefit navigation, please reach out to our Resident Support Staff:
Precious Chamberlain and Kaio DePaula can assist with:

• 3SquaresVT and other benefits-related questions
• Local and regional resource referrals
• Food access safety planning and other support

Their contact info is available at https://www.addisonhousingworks.org/family-support-program.html or you can reach them by calling our main office at 802-877-2626, and we’ll connect you to a Resident Support staff member. 

You can also download this guide to local Addison County food and community resources. 

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

​The October Board Meeting will be held on October 30th at 4:30 pm in Vergennes or via Zoom. Please RSVP below if you plan on attending or to receive the Zoom link and meeting materials. 

• ​​Agenda
• September Minutes​

When Sean and Shalyn Couch began dreaming of homeownership, they never imagined the path would take them across the country to Vermont. In 2017, while living in San Diego, they started looking for homes but quickly realized the market there was out of reach. They longed for a place where they could start a family, in a safe, family-centered community. Vermont’s natural beauty, family-friendly atmosphere, and shared values called to them.

So, in 2020 they made the leap, packing up, moving east with newborn baby Eleanor, and deciding to rent until they found the right home.

The Long Road to Homeownership
Like so many young families, Sean and Shalyn worked hard to prepare for homeownership. They paid off debt, saved diligently for a down payment, and set their hearts on finding a permanent home. But the Vermont housing market wasn’t easy to navigate.

Many homes were fixer-uppers that needed more work than they could take on. Others were too far from the schools, jobs, and grocery stores that their growing family needed. For a time, they squeezed into a tiny studio apartment, making do while Eleanor was still a baby, but they knew it couldn’t last forever.

Eventually, they found a rental in Middlebury, and everything changed.

“We fell in love with Middlebury,” Shalyn shared. “The schools, the neighborhood, the community, it all just felt right.”

Sean, who works as a delivery driver, has the chance to see towns all across Vermont, but nothing compared to Middlebury. Shalyn works at the local food co-op, where she’s found the same sense of community and shared values that first drew their family to Vermont. Together, they knew this was where they wanted to put down roots.

Finding Addison Housing Works
Then, all in the same week, two things happened: they spotted information about Addison Housing Works’ Shared Equity Program online, and their realtor mentioned it as well. It felt like a sign.

Still, they assumed it was a long shot. “We figured too many people had already applied and that we’d be way down on the list,” Shalyn recalled.

But then came the email from AHW’s Shared Equity Manager, Michelle. The Couches were first in line for a brand-new home at Stonecrop Meadows through the Shared Equity Program.

“When I opened that email,” Shalyn said, “I felt like we won the lottery. My heart couldn’t contain the emotion.”

Welcome Home
This summer, the Couches closed on their new home, the first family to move into Stonecrop Meadows through AHW’s Shared Equity Program.

“We wanted this so badly, and now we have it,” Shalyn reflected. “It feels like a dream come true.”

Their favorite part? “The convenience,” Sean said. “Everything is brand new. Everything is an upgrade. We love having a garage and being able to bring groceries in while staying dry.”

For Shalyn, it’s the cozy “nook space” by the window, a perfect reading spot for her and Eleanor to share books together, or for Shalyn to enjoy a rare quiet moment.

And for Eleanor, age five, the best part of her new home is the simple joy of a bedroom window where she can look out at the stars and the moon each night.

Beyond the house itself, Sean and Shalyn say the community has already made them feel at peace: “Everyone is so nice. I feel calmer here. We feel like we belong.”

A Home for Today and Tomorrow
For the Couches, their new home is more than just a house. It’s stability, safety, and a future. Thanks to a down payment grant from Addison Housing Works and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, a home that otherwise would have cost over $350,000 was made accessible at just $233,000 and will now remain permanently affordable for future generations of families like the Couches.

One day, Sean and Shalyn hope their home can either be passed on to Eleanor or transition to another family in need continuing the cycle of opportunity that helped make their dream possible.

That’s the power of the Shared Equity Program: it makes homeownership possible today, while ensuring homes stay affordable for generations to come.

Welcome home, Couches. We are so glad you’re here.

​Want to learn more about how Addison Housing Works’ Shared Equity Program can help make your dream of homeownership possible? Visit addisonhousingworks.org/shared-equity-program.

​

The September Board Meeting will be held on September 25 at 4:30 pm in Vergennes or via Zoom. Please RSVP below if you plan on attending or to receive the Zoom link and meeting materials. 

• Agenda
  
• July Minutes
  

The recent executive order, Ending Crime and Disorder on America’s Streets, highlights real challenges facing communities: visible homelessness, public safety concerns, and the acute needs of individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. It is undeniable that some people experiencing homelessness struggle with mental illness or substance use, and these issues can be associated with higher risk of victimization, encounters with law enforcement, and challenges in maintaining stable housing.

However, the EO mischaracterizes the problem and proposes solutions that evidence shows are ineffective or harmful. Contrary to the claim that the “overwhelming majority” of people experiencing homelessness have mental health or substance use disorders, research consistently finds that:

• Most people experiencing homelessness are not chronically addicted or mentally ill. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, about 25–30% of the homeless population experience serious mental illness or substance use disorders, and fewer have both concurrently (NCH, 2025, 2017)
  
• Homelessness is primarily a housing problem, not a mental health problem. Access to affordable, stable housing is the strongest predictor of ending homelessness (Colburn et al., 2022)
• Evidence-based “harm reduction” programs—such as overdose prevention, safe injection sites, and syringe exchange—reduce morbidity and mortality, improve engagement with services, and are supported by extensive research (NIH, 2010)

Effective Solutions

The research base is clear that effective strategies require housing first coupled with robust, voluntary, and when necessary, assertive services, rather than coercion or involuntary commitment:

1. Housing First: Provides immediate access to permanent housing without preconditions. Randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies show that Housing First dramatically increases housing stability compared to treatment-first or shelter-based approaches (Tsemberis et al., 2004).
2. Integrated Supportive Services: To promote recovery and accountability, Housing First programs must pair housing with services such as mental health counseling, substance use treatment, medical care, and case management.
3. Assertive Community Treatment (ACT): For individuals with severe mental illness, ACT teams provide frequent, intensive, and community-based support, achieving higher treatment adherence, reduced hospitalizations, and improved housing retention without involuntary commitment (Phillips et al., 2001)
4. Harm Reduction Approaches: Evidence shows that harm reduction programs reduce overdose deaths, infectious disease spread, and improve engagement in treatment—directly addressing the EO’s stated concerns about public safety. 

Systemic Challenges

Current homelessness systems are under-resourced. Many communities lack sufficient affordable housing, case management capacity, and coordinated health services. These gaps leave individuals exposed to cycles of crisis, incarceration, and hospitalization. Accessible voluntary services are necessary but not sufficient; high-risk individuals may require more assertively delivered services to ensure both their safety and that of the community.

To the extent Housing First is not meeting its promise for the minority of the homeless population who are experiencing mental illness or SUD, it is due to lack of co-investment in services, not a failure of the model itself. The solution is more robust service-delivery--especially through ACT and permanent supportive housing--not a return to the dark days of mass institutionalization. 

Conclusion

The evidence indicates that public safety and community well-being are best supported by:

• Investing in Housing First and permanent supportive housing,
• Ensuring comprehensive, assertive voluntary services (including ACT),
• Maintaining and expanding harm reduction programs, and
• Addressing systemic barriers to affordable housing and health care.

Coercion, involuntary commitment, or criminalization of homelessness does not address the root causes and is consistently shown to worsen outcomes. A data-driven, humane approach requires substantial investment in housing and services that meet people where they are, protect civil rights, and promote long-term stability.

 June & July Highlights
Our Family Support Program continues to make a difference in residents’ lives across our communities. In recent months, we’ve seen how many residents face challenges that often go unaddressed by other providers—such as low literacy, the complexities of aging, and serious health conditions. By building trust and offering steady support, advocacy, and connection, we help residents navigate these barriers and remain safely housed. Here are a few stories from June and July that illustrate this impact.

Supporting Stability at Home
One Addison County mother, raising three teenagers on her own, was referred for help after an inspection revealed that housekeeping issues were creating potential health and fire safety hazards in her apartment. Through consistent check-ins, she’s tackled the work step by step—starting with the kitchen, then the hallway, and beyond. With the right supplies, encouragement, and regular meetings, she’s making lasting progress ensuring a safe and healthy environment for her family. As she put it: “I really like our meetings and your support.”

Navigating Housing Paperwork
For one longtime resident who cannot read or write, the annual housing voucher recertification process felt overwhelming. By building a supportive relationship, our staff were able to help him gather the right documents, connect with Social Security, and keep his Section 8 voucher current—ensuring he didn’t lose his housing.

Another resident with a traumatic brain injury was struggling with back rent after not understanding a change in his subsidy. Usually hard to reach, he was able to bond with Family Support Coordinator Kaio over shared affection for Steven Segal movies, and together they were able to review his rental portion, apply for emergency assistance, and resolve the arrears. Today, he’s current on his rent and says simply: “I’m all set up now.”

Consistent Support for Seniors
At 85, one resident shared how overwhelming it can be to manage the annual recertification paperwork for affordable housing. For the past three years, our staff have been there each summer to guide her through gathering income documents and completing the process. That continuity makes it possible for her to remain safely housed and stress-free.

Moving to Vermont and Starting Fresh
A newer resident who recently relocated from another state needed help transferring her Medicare benefits to Vermont and paying a security deposit after moving in. She hadn’t felt comfortable reaching out to other providers, but she connected easily with our Family Support staff. With support, she was able to secure financial assistance and settle into her new home with confidence.

Adjusting to New Health Needs
One former farmer, recently retired, was hospitalized this summer and now requires a first-floor apartment. Our team helped him get on the waitlist for an accessible unit and secure a reasonable accommodation request. Though he misses farm life, he’s adjusting with a positive spirit and is grateful to have advocacy and support as his needs change.

Home Repair Impact
This summer, our team helped residents access more than $20,000 in Manufactured Housing Improvement and Repair (MHIR) program funding for health and safety investment. Projects included new flooring in living rooms and bathrooms, plumbing and shower repairs, and essential improvements like roofing, doors, and skirting. These repairs ensure that homes remain safe, livable, and secure for residents who might otherwise go without.

Thank you to all staff, partners, and community members who make this work possible. Together, we’re helping residents stay safe, stable, and supported in their homes.

It’s been a seismic summer, with housing and essential services squarely at the forefront of national attention. At Addison Housing Works, we’re working to stay engaged and responsive amid ongoing volatility, always with our residents’ safety and security as the bottom line.

It seems like every day brings new data pointing to the consequences of federal retrenchment. Two recent reports from the Urban Institute stand out. One offers an interactive look at the geographic footprint of households that rely on both Medicaid and SNAP: over 12 million across the U.S., including many in rural regions like ours. Cuts to either program don’t just affect health or hunger in isolation; they ripple directly into housing stability.

The second report is just as clear: when there isn’t enough affordable housing, more children and youth experience homelessness. Over the past 17 years, the number of homeless K–12 students has risen nearly 80%. These young people face chronic absenteeism, lower graduation rates, and compounding disadvantage. If we’re serious about educational equity, we have to be serious about housing supply.

We’re also seeing growing evidence of what does move the needle, right from our own back yard. A new paper from a Middlebury College economics professor and student is drawing national attention for its analysis of Minneapolis’s 2018 zoning reforms. By eliminating single-family-only zoning, the city saw rents and home prices fall by double digits. The research offers a compelling argument for how local land use reform can impact affordability even before a single unit is built.

All of this reinforces why our work matters—not just the homes we develop and manage, but the systems-level engagement we bring to the table. Thank you for staying in this with us.