Vermont’s housing shortage persists because building homes requires navigating a chain of barriers that can stall projects long before construction begins. These include regulatory complexity, uncertainty about permitting pathways, the decline of small-scale developers who historically built much of the state’s housing, and the high upfront costs of design and engineering. Even when projects clear those hurdles, they must still contend with high construction costs, limited infrastructure in many communities, and financing challenges—especially for small multifamily housing that falls between traditional single-family mortgages and large commercial development loans.

Congress for the New Urbanism recently highlighted Vermont’s new 802 Homes initiative, which directly addresses several of these barriers. Most promising, by offering professionally designed, code-compliant housing plans at little or no cost, the program can eliminate a major upfront expense and shorten the design and state-level permitting phase for projects like ADUs, duplexes, and small multiplexes. That alone could make many small projects more feasible for homeowners and first-time builders who might otherwise be deterred by the cost and complexity of hiring architects and engineers.

The initiative also includes training and tools intended to rebuild the pipeline of small-scale developers and help participants understand financing and project feasibility. Pre-reviewed designs may help streamline permitting in participating communities, but each site still has unique constraints—such as setbacks, utilities, and access—that require local review. As a result, the program’s most immediate impact is likely to be reducing design costs and timelines, while its effects on permitting, financing, and developer capacity are likely to be more incremental.

While 802 Homes is a promising approach to relieving housing bottlenecks, some of the most significant constraints on housing production remain unresolved--particularly the high cost of construction itself. While the initiative highlights modular off-site construction as a potential solution, Vermont’s past experience (e.g. Vermod homes) suggests modular housing has not substantially reduced costs or scaled production. Manufactured housing, by contrast, can deliver high-quality, energy-efficient homes at dramatically lower prices, often around $120 per square foot compared with $300-$400 for modular housing. This housing type faces development and permitting barriers of its own, however. Addressing these barriers is a potentially high-leverage strategy Vermont could pursue more aggressively to increase housing production at the scale needed to solve the housing crisis.

Addison Housing Works is thrilled to announce that we have received a generous $10,000 grant from The M&T Charitable Foundation in support of our general operations.

This meaningful investment will help strengthen the core of our work, ensuring that individuals and families across Addison County have access to safe, stable, and permanently affordable housing.

The vision of The M&T Charitable Foundation is to partner with communities to impact equitable change, building relationships rooted in trust and understanding. We are honored to be included in that vision and grateful for their commitment to housing as a foundation for thriving communities.
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As Kathy Schirling, Senior Regional Program Officer for Vermont, shared:

AHW's January Board Meeting will be held at 4:30pm at One Credit Union in Vergennes (and via Zoom) on Thursday, January 29th. The agenda and previous minutes can be downloaded below; to RSVP and receive the full packet, please use the registration form below.

• Agenda
• December Minutes

We’re excited to share some big news: Addison Housing Works has been awarded more than $3.75 million in funding to preserve affordable housing and invest in critical infrastructure across Addison County. These awards will help ensure long-term housing stability for seniors and manufactured home residents while protecting affordability for years to come.

Preserving Affordable Senior Housing in Vergennes

In December 2025, Addison Housing Works received major funding commitments to support the acquisition and preservation of Valley View Apartments, a low-income senior housing community in Vergennes.

The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) awarded $2,063,063 to support the purchase of the property and maintain its long-term affordability. In addition, the Vermont Community Loan Fund (VCLF) committed a $500,000 low-interest social impact loan, designed specifically to support mission-driven affordable housing preservation.

Together, these investments will allow Valley View Apartments to remain an affordable, stable home for senior residents, helping prevent displacement and ensuring the property continues to serve the community well into the future.

“Preserving existing affordable homes is one of the most effective tools we have to address the housing crisis,” said Elise Shanbacker, Executive Director of Addison Housing Works. “These investments allow us to stabilize housing for seniors in Vergennes and prevent displacement when properties change hands.”

Investing in Safe, Reliable Infrastructure at Hillside Manor

AHW also secured $1.2 million through a Congressionally Directed Spending award to fund much-needed water and wastewater system upgrades at Hillside Manor, a manufactured housing community in Starksboro.

The funding—awarded through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund—will support critical improvements to aging infrastructure, helping protect public health and ensure residents have safe, reliable water and wastewater systems.

This earmark was championed by Senator Peter Welch, in partnership with Senator Bernie Sanders, and was signed into law in January 2026.

“Infrastructure upgrades like these are essential to keeping manufactured home communities viable and affordable, particularly in rural Vermont,” Shanbacker said. “This investment will make a lasting difference for residents.”

Building Momentum for Housing Stability Across Addison County

Taken together, these funding awards reflect growing momentum at the local, state, and federal levels to preserve affordable housing and invest in resilient community infrastructure throughout Addison County.

We’re deeply grateful to VHCB, VCLF, Vermont’s congressional delegation, and our many public and private partners for their continued commitment to housing stability and affordability. Their support makes it possible for Addison Housing Works to continue advancing our mission, and to ensure more of our neighbors have a safe, affordable place to call home.

On Thursday, January 22, 2026, community members gathered in downtown Middlebury for Addison County Homelessness Awareness Day: Remembering Those We’ve Lost, a candlelight walk and vigil organized by the Addison County Housing Coalition (ACHC). The event took place in tandem with Homelessness Awareness Day gatherings happening across Vermont, offering space for reflection, remembrance, and community connection.
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This year’s Addison County gathering included a candlelight walk through town, culminating in a vigil at the Middlebury Town Green Gazebo, where attendees honored those in our community who have died while experiencing homelessness.

A Community Gathering at Triangle Park

I attended the vigil for the first time this year, and I wasn’t sure what to expect.

A medium-sized group of people gathered together at Triangle Park in Middlebury, representatives from ACHC member organizations, along with members of the community, both housed and unhoused. We met at the busy corner of Academy and Main Street, taking time to catch up, collect LED candles, and pick up signs before the walk began.

Even before we started moving, it was clear that our presence mattered.
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As we stood together holding signs, people passing by in cars slowed down to read them. Then something powerful happened: drivers began honking their horns in support. The response was overwhelming. For a moment, we stayed there as a group, simply holding our signs and letting our community see us.

Walking Together in Silence

Before the walk, Heidi Lacey, Executive Director of the Charter House Coalition, offered opening remarks. She spoke about the way homelessness touches our communities more deeply than we often realize. How it affects friends, neighbors, family members, coworkers, and how urgent the need is for safe, stable, affordable housing here in Vermont.

Then we began our silent candlelight walk.

As the sun dipped low and the light faded, we walked down Main Street toward the gazebo on the Town Green. Many of us carried a candle in one hand and a sign in the other, moving slowly and quietly together. Even in silence, we were not invisible, cars continued to honk, and people looked on with a mix of curiosity, concern, and support.

Remembering Those We've Lost

When we arrived at the Town Green Gazebo, beautifully lit against the winter dusk, we gathered again for the vigil.

Heidi Lacey spoke once more, helping to guide the evening and keep us grounded in why we were there.
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Next, Rev. Johny Daigan Widell, representing the Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, Vermont Cares, and the Turning Point Center of Addison County, led us through one of the most moving parts of the night: the reading of the names of community members who died while experiencing homelessness since the last Homelessness Awareness Day.

Each name was read aloud—one by one—to honor the individuals behind the statistics. At the end, we held a moment of silence to remember them.
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It was deeply emotional. It was also deeply necessary.

The Reality of Winter Without Housing

That night, the temperature wasn’t unbearable, but bitter cold and heavy snowfall were on the way, with frigid, record-breaking weather forecasted for the days ahead.

As I stood there, listening and holding my candle, I couldn’t help but think about what it would mean to face that kind of storm without a safe home. Without a warm room. Without a door that locks. Without a place to rest.

And that is the reality for too many people in Addison County.
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Homelessness isn’t something happening “somewhere else.” It’s here. It’s our neighbors. It’s our community members. It’s people we pass every day.

Holding Space and Holding Each Other

Following the vigil, we gathered together as a community to share warm drinks and connect. In such a heavy moment, the simple act of being together, sharing warmth, conversation, and presence, felt meaningful.
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Homelessness Awareness Day is about bearing witness, but it’s also about reminding ourselves that community care is real, and that we are not powerless.

About the Addison County Housing Coalition

This event was organized by the Addison County Housing Coalition (ACHC), a group of community organizations working together toward a shared goal: preventing homelessness, supporting people in crisis, and advocating for solutions that make stable housing possible in our region.

Addison Housing Works is proud to be a member of ACHC, alongside many other local partners committed to housing justice and community well-being.

Moving Forward Together

Homelessness Awareness Day is a moment of reflection, but it’s also a call to action.

To honor those we’ve lost, we must continue building a community where fewer people fall into homelessness, and where everyone has a fair chance at safe, stable housing.

If you’ve never attended a Homelessness Awareness Day vigil before, I encourage you to join next year. Show up. Walk with your neighbors. Hold a candle. Speak the names. Witness the reality—and the resilience—of our community.
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Because no one should be forgotten.

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Early in the month, Armory Lane residents were treated to an unforgettable surprise: the Victory Kids Choir from Victory Baptist Church came to perform Christmas carols for the community.
The children were bused over from the church and arrived ready to sing a wonderful selection of classic holiday songs. Residents gathered to listen, smiling as the room filled with cheerful music and the sound of young voices singing familiar carols.
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But the best part? The residents couldn’t resist joining in the fun, they began requesting even more carols once the choir finished their planned set. That’s when the kids surprised everyone right back by knowing the lyrics and singing along to the requested songs without missing a beat.
The residents were truly overjoyed by the visit. The joy and energy the children brought was contagious, and by the end of the performance, many residents were asking church leadership if there might be a way to plan another visit in the future. It was the kind of moment that reminds us how powerful intergenerational connection can be, especially during the holidays.

"Christmas Isn't Just for Kids" Party Brings Laughter and Fun

Residents kicked off the celebration with a classic holiday favorite, a Yankee Swap gift exchange! Gifts were thoughtfully shopped by Lead SASH Coordinator, Diana Rule-Senzel, and everyone joined in as the game got underway. In true Yankee Swap style, participants could “steal” gifts from one another until the game ended, leading to plenty of playful banter, laughter, and fun throughout the room.

After the gift exchange, residents enjoyed a potluck meal they prepared together, filled with traditional holiday favorites like ham, turkey, and a variety of delicious side dishes. When the main meal was finished, there was an incredible spread of dessert treats—also prepared by residents—waiting to be enjoyed and shared.
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Throughout the entire celebration, the community room was full of fellowship, conversation, and connection. It was a perfect reminder that the holidays don’t have to be spent alone, and that even simple traditions, when shared, can create lasting memories.

Building Connection During the Holidays

At Addison Housing Works, we aim to support residents in building connections with one another year-round, but the holidays are an especially important time to do so. For some seniors, this season can feel quiet or lonely. Events like these help create opportunities for joy, companionship, and community spirit.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped make these December celebrations so meaningful. From the Victory Kids Choir and church leaders, to Diana and our Armory Lane residents who brought food, laughter, and holiday cheer to the table.

Armory Lane’s holiday season was one to remember and we look forward to creating even more moments of connection in the year ahead.

AHW's December Board meeting will be held on Thursday, December 18, at 4pm at the National Bank of Middlebury in Middlebury or via Zoom. For meeting materials, please RSVP below. Minutes and agenda are available for download below:

• October Minutes
  
• December Agenda
  

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.