What does it take to make ends meet in Addison County?  What housing options are out there for people working low-wage jobs or perhaps unable to work?  These are just a few of the questions explored in this interview with Erika Paine, an Occupancy Specialist at ACCT who works with those experiencing these challenges, and who has struggled with and overcome some of these issues herself.  Take a listen at http://sites.middlebury.edu/privilegeandpoverty/2016/12/15/podcast-series-hunger-homelessness-in-addison-county/

ACCT is seeking a half-time Community Engagement Coordinator through the VHCB AmeriCorps program, starting in September 2017 and running through August 2018.  For more information, visit www.addisontrust.org/AmeriCorps. 

On July 25th, Vergennes Mayor, Michael Daniels, will be meeting with area seniors at our building at 50 Armory Lane for an opportunity to hear whats on their minds. This public event will begin at 11:10 and a lunch will be served directly following the event. Lunch is available for a suggested donation of $5 per person.

If you are planning to have lunch after, you must sign up with Michelle Eastmann, (Community Meals Coordinator), at 802-377-1419 by Friday, July 21st.   

​We hope to see you there!

ACCT is proud to be spearheading the planning efforts for a much-needed public forum on the status of housing in Addison County. Many thanks for the generosity of the Vermont Coffee Company, which will be hosting the summit at their new Playhouse on Exchange Street in Middlebury. 

Addison County has a less than 1% vacancy rate for housing, and, furthermore, an adult with one child would need to make $23.56/hour in order to have a living wage in Addison County-- nearly $14/hour more than minimum wage. As changes come into effect regarding coordinated entry processes and other new initiatives, we will join together as a community to learn about the current and future status of housing in Addison County.

ACCT will be joining other nonprofits, services providers, and government agencies, including CVOEO, Economic Services, Vermont 211, Charter House, John Graham Shelter, Parent Child Center, and more, to discuss coordinated entry, outline the currents status of housing in the county, the needs in the county and across the state, building development, and what action steps are needed to move our community forward. 

ACCT would like to thank Kendra Schpok of Talking Paintbrush for her family's generous donation of a whole truckload of daylilies! 
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The perennial flowers will be planted in the yards of a number of ACCT's apartments, as part of Housing Vermont's work day to green-up and refresh the landscaping of our Vergennes properties. 

We can't wait to see the apartments' gardens overflowing with flowers! Thanks to all of our donors and volunteers! 

It’s the first spring for residents in their new VerMod homes at McKnight Lane, and the property is flourishing. Residents have enjoyed watching Otter Creek rise and swell from the back of the property, and the grass is growing strong in their new yards.
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Planting is underway here at the first community garden to be established at an ACCT apartment site. Four raised-bed plots will be stewarded by the first community gardeners. They have dedicated time this winter deciding how to maintain the beds, establishing open communication regarding garden upkeep, set up a composting system for the site, and sharing seeds generously donated by the Vermont Community Garden Network and High Mowing.

While the gardeners look forward to the potential of expanding their garden next season, right now they are looking forward to harvesting all manner of peas, tomatoes, greens, kale, herbs, flowers, and more.
Other residents have plans to plant, too, though they aren’t participating in the McKnight Lane Community Garden. One household plans on continuing their annual spring tradition of planting petunias on their front porch, as well as cherry tomatoes in hanging baskets – a great way to increase yield without having to stake anything in the ground.