Our 2021 Annual Report is now available! An excerpt highlighting some of our key accomplishment is posted below, along with a snapshot visual summary.

When we celebrated our "We Made It Home" event last year, vaccines, warm weather, and it seemed easier times were on the horizon. Of course the pandemic had other plans for us, with Delta and then Omicron requiring course corrections and adjustments. Nevertheless, we continued to "make it home" for thousands of Addison County residents.

Residents of our senior housing stayed safe with assistance from our SASH program, which ensured that every senior was able to get the vaccine. Launched last March, our new Family Support Program expanded our ability to help families with children access resources that addressed everything from financial security to food insecurity. Residents of our mobile home communities enjoyed better, safer infrastructure including rebuilt roads and clean water projects. 
In addition to those who have lived with ACCT for a long time, 70 new families found a home with ACCT in 2021, from 23 who were experiencing homelessness to five who realized their dream of homeownership. In 2022 we will lay the groundwork for even more housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters as we seek to break ground on a 20-unit apartment complex on Firehouse Drive in Bristol.

As we look to the future, we may not know what lies ahead, but we know that with your support, we will be better prepared than ever to meet the challenges and opportunities that come our way.

ACCT's Annual Meeting will take place on Thursday, April 28, at 4pm via Zoom. Join us to hear about our 2021 Annual Report and have an open discussion on affordable housing challenges and solutions. Meeting materials:

• Agenda
• March meeting minutes
• Slate of Directors and Officers for election
  

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0udu2urzktHtJ0ks6u-_KQGX86Nu1CEQ5o

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Did you know that April is Fair Housing Month? We've been observing Fair Housing Month at ACCT by featuring and supporting Fair Housing Fridays. Every Friday in April, there's a webinar discussion of different Fair Housing Topics. Tomorrow's topic is “Unique Challenges and Opportunities of Mobile Home Parks” and ACCT's Executive Director Elise Shanbacker will speak as a panelist. See below for more details and registration information--hope to see you there!

Unique Challenges and Opportunities of Mobile Home Parks
Friday April 22, 2022 from 12:30-1:30 (40 mins panel, 20 mins questions)

Featuring: Elise Shanbacker (ACCT), Kelly Hamshaw (UVM CDAE), Gayle Pezzo (Westbury)

Vermont’s Mobile Home Parks are home to more than 7,000 households and provide an affordable homeownership option despite the rising costs of housing across the state. These 236 communities can be found situated in many different contexts ranging from urban Burlington to remotest corner of the Canadian border; while their specific contexts may differ, common challenges and opportunities can be found in nearly every park. Despite making up a significant piece of the state’s affordable housing landscape, the “housing conversation” in Vermont often overlooks these communities and the unique challenges residents and park owners face within them.
 
Join us for a lively conversation about these unique challenges, including:

• State and local funding challenges for mobile home parks and residents
• Impacts of aging park infrastructure
• Historic stigma surrounding mobile home parks
• Physical and political distance between park residents and policymakers
• Home repair challenges for low-income Vermonters
• Long term risks to mobile home park sustainability post-Irene

 
https://fairhousingmonthvt.org/event-calendar/fair-housing-friday-launch-tfgx8-2ahn7