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Paul, a long-time AHW resident who lives alone in historic Smallest City apartments in downtown Vergennes, has built a strong and supportive connection with Kaio, one of our Family Support Coordinators. The two meet regularly in Paul’s apartment, where Kaio helps with everything from managing paperwork to coordinating medical care.
Recently, Kaio supported Paul through the process of applying for moderate-needs services under the Choices for Care Medicaid program. Paul was approved and is now moving up the waitlist for a personal care attendant—someone who can help with household chores he’s no longer able to do on his own. In the meantime, Kaio has helped him create a budget, resolve an old cable bill, and stay on top of medical appointments, especially for a long-standing foot injury that made it hard for Paul to get around. With the right support, Paul is now feeling more mobile, more connected, and better able to live independently in his home. He’s especially grateful for the relationship he’s built with Kaio—and when he’s not working through paperwork, you’ll likely find him relaxing with one of the many DVDs in his impressive movie collection. The limited housing supply in Addison County has made it difficult to expand AHW’s shared equity homeownership program. However, in 2024, our downpayment grant program helped one family achieve their dream of homeownership in Shoreham while securing another permanently affordable home for future generations.
For the Avelis family, the dream of homeownership once felt just out of reach. After spending a year searching for a home, making multiple unsuccessful offers, and watching rental costs rise beyond their means, they faced an uncertain future. With a second child on the way, they were on the brink of leaving Vermont, despite it being the place they already considered home. That changed when a friend introduced them to Addison Housing Works’ shared equity homeownership program. "At first, it sounded too good to be true," they recall. "But as we worked through the application, we became hopeful for the first time that we could stay in Vermont and even own our first home." Their acceptance into the program marked the beginning of a new chapter—one filled with stability, optimism, and deep gratitude. "We look at each other every day and say, ‘I can't believe this is our house. This is our life.’ Having a place to raise our family and put down roots feels incredible." With the burden of housing insecurity lifted, the family’s stress levels have decreased dramatically. "We're no longer worried about where we will live or whether we can build with a long-term future in mind. Having affordable, stable housing has been life-changing." When Shared Equity Program Manager Michelle Caniyo asked the family what they want people to know about affordable housing, they underscored the broader impact of affordable homeownership on community well-being: "Affordable housing is a cornerstone of a strong, diverse, and socially sustainable community. When people feel stable and secure in their housing, they have more to give back. Supporting programs like Addison Housing Works doesn’t just help families today—it creates a foundation of care that will echo through future generations." Thanks to the generosity of donors and the commitment of Addison Housing Works, another Vermont family has found a place to call home—ensuring they can continue to be part of the community they love.
2024 was a tough year for Joan as she suffered a broken hip in New York and it was then that she really needed extra support. Her family and friends were not able to go visit her as often due to the distance, when she was first in a hospital, then nursing home in New York.
SASH worked with the team which helped her transition to a Nursing Home in Burlington, where family and friends and her SASH Coordinator could come visit her and participate in Care Conferences in person. At first Joan could not walk, then needed surgery, then needed intensive rehab and physical therapy. She transitioned home to Armory Lane and continued physical therapy at home. SASH was part of her day-to-day life cheering her on, providing programming, and helping her with her physical health goals. SASH also assisted her with technology so she could face time with her children, who live out of state. SASH hosted an eight-week Matter of Balance Class, which Joan attended along with beginning to do Bone Builders again. Joan also receives free foot care in her building, which SASH sponsors. Joan also recently was able to get a pair of specially made shoes, which make walking much easier. Another huge plus for Joan is that she was picked as one of three SASH Participants that are able to work with a free Life Coach. Joan states that this has been such a big help to her. “We are all so glad that Joan is doing better and better this year!” states her SASH Team. “Also a huge shout out to Addison Housing Works for having the SASH Program for our area seniors!” According to a new analysis by Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Vermont is falling short of its housing targets by thousands of homes each year. In order to alleviate the state's housing crisis, the recent statewide housing needs assessment estimates that Vermont needs 28,000-41,000 more homes by 2030, but is currently on track to produce only 12,500.
A new dashboard from the Department of Housing and Community Development breaks these targets down further by county and (coming soon) town. Addison County needs to add about 400 homes per year to meet projected housing demand by 2030. However, it is currently averaging only 110 homes annually, which will leave the county nearly 1,500 homes short of the 2,000 total needed by the end of the decade. Falling short of these goals will continue to drive up housing costs, reduce availability, and push working families and vulnerable residents out of our communities. It’s more important than ever to support policies and investments that increase the supply of affordable and workforce housing—because everyone deserves a place to call home. Addison Housing Works recently adopted a new three-year strategic plan to guide our work over the next three years. The shortened time frame for the plan reflects the increasing volatility and uncertainty we face in the housing market and federal landscape, but we remain steadfast in our mission: creating more housing opportunities, supporting our residents, properties, and communities, advocating for systems change, and ensuring our long-term sustainability. Download our full strategic plan or read the summary below. Your browser does not support viewing this document. Click here to download the document.
Navigating a Competitive Housing Market Like many others in Addison County, Marci faced the challenge of displacement when her rental was sold. “I was told my current apartment was being sold, and the new owner was going to live there,” she shared. With few options available, she explored different housing opportunities and learned that a home within our program was about to be listed for sale.
She quickly began the application process, understanding how competitive the market was. “I jumped through hoops to try to get everything done quickly because the housing market was so tight. I almost didn’t get the house as two people were ahead of me to look at it.” But persistence paid off, and she was able to secure a home through Addison Housing Works. A Home That Brings Peace of Mind Since moving in, Marci has experienced the security and stability that come with homeownership. “I like knowing that I have a home that I will not be asked to leave,” she said. She also highlighted the importance of the support provided by Addison Housing Works. “Having the support of the trust to get fixes done that are outside my financial ability helped tremendously.” Advice for Others Seeking Affordable Housing For those currently searching for affordable housing, Marci offers practical advice: “Get an application in even if there isn’t a house on the market. Talk with the representatives in the area you are looking so they can help you when something becomes available. Be patient and trust the process. Everyone is doing the best they can, and things work out.” Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the impact of affordable housing programs. At Addison Housing Works, we remain committed to creating more opportunities for individuals and families to find the security of a stable home. The AHW Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, March 27, 2025, at 4:30pm at One Credit Union in Vergennes (48 Green Street) and via Zoom. Download the agenda and register below to attend/receive the Zoom link and packet. On a mild Wednesday evening in March, AHW had the honor of joining 13 other Addison County organizations doing the work on climate, showcasing a wealth of energy and achievements in making Vermont a more environmentally sustainable place to live. From energy efficient housing to resilient and climate conscious food systems to electrified transit and more, Addison County has much to be proud of, and a lot more we can do--especially when it comes to increasing access to energy programs for low- and moderate-income households. It was great to see how many others are working to this shared goal, and a sign of many opportunities to collaborate in the future. AHW's February Board meeting will take place at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, February 27, 2025, at One Credit Union in Vergennes and via Zoom. Please RSVP to ensure we have enough space and/or receive the Zoom link. Download the agenda here. |
AuthorAddison Housing Works staff members share news and information about upcoming events. Archives
April 2025
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