When people think about affordable housing, one of the most common assumptions is that residents are unemployed or primarily dependent on public assistance.

Our resident data tells a different story.

Nearly one in three households (33%) living in our multifamily apartment communities has employment income. For these households, the average annual earnings from employment are approximately $37,000.

Yet having a job doesn't necessarily mean housing is affordable.

Among households with employment income, one-third are still classified as Extremely Low Income, based on federal income guidelines. Even while working, many households simply don't earn enough to keep up with today's housing costs.

That's where affordable housing makes a difference.

On average, apartments in our communities rent for about $1,250 per month, but residents pay an average of $731 per month out of pocket. Rental assistance helps bridge the gap, allowing households to pay a rent that is affordable based on their income.

In fact, two-thirds of working households receive rental assistance. These are not households without jobs—they are workers whose wages alone are not enough to afford market-rate housing.

Our data also shows that many households rely on more than one source of income. About one-third of working households also receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). In some cases, that reflects older adults who continue working after retirement. In others, it reflects households with more than one adult contributing to the family's finances, or people with disabilities who are able to work while receiving benefits.

The picture that emerges is one of resilience. Many residents are doing exactly what we often expect people to do: working, budgeting carefully, and combining multiple sources of income to make ends meet. Affordable housing provides the stability that allows those efforts to succeed.

Affordable housing is often described as a safety net. But for many of our residents, it's also a workforce support. It helps employees remain close to their jobs, enables older adults to continue contributing to their communities, and provides the stability families need to build a better future.

The next time you hear someone ask who lives in affordable housing, remember: many of the people who call our communities home are also the people who keep our communities running.

Addison Housing Works (AHW) is excited to announce that it has been awarded $1,978,125 from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) to support a major infrastructure improvement project at Hillside Manor, a 29-lot manufactured home community in Starksboro.

Originally developed in the 1960s, Hillside Manor has provided affordable homeownership opportunities to local families for decades. Along with AHW's other manufactured housing communities in town, these neighborhoods make up roughly one in five housing units in Starksboro and provide an affordable housing option in a rural community where housing opportunities are limited.

Engineering studies completed in 2023 identified significant infrastructure challenges in this community that severely impact homeowners and properties at large, from aging waterlines vulnerable to leaks and freezing, inadequate drainage, and outdated septic systems. The funding will allow AHW to improve and replace much of the community's aging infrastructure, including drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, and roadway systems that have reached the end of their useful life.

"This investment is transformative for Hillside Manor and for the families who call it home," said Elise Shanbacker, Executive Director of Addison Housing Works. "Residents have dealt with recurring water and wastewater failures, freezing lines, drainage problems, and infrastructure that simply cannot continue to function safely without major reinvestment. VHCB's support allows us to move forward with a project that will preserve this important affordable housing community for decades to come."
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AHW is grateful to the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board for its continued partnership and investment in preserving affordable housing throughout Addison County.

Who lives in affordable housing? It's a question that's often answered with assumptions. Our latest resident profile tells a more nuanced story.

This year, we analyzed data from 383 households living in our multifamily apartment communities to better understand who our residents are and how affordable housing helps people remain part of the communities they call home.

One of the strongest themes is housing stability. Residents stay in their homes for an average of nearly seven years, demonstrating that affordable housing provides more than a roof over someone's head—it creates long-term stability. Stable housing allows seniors to age in place, families to establish roots, and individuals to remain connected to their jobs, healthcare providers, and neighbors.

The data also challenges some common misconceptions about who lives in affordable housing.

While many residents are older adults living on fixed incomes, a substantial share are working. About one-third of households report employment income, making it the second most common income source after Social Security. Nearly half of households receive Social Security, reflecting the large number of retirees in our communities who have earned retirement benefits over a lifetime of work. By comparison, only about 3% of households receive General Assistance, one of the smallest income categories in our resident population.

Many households also rely on more than one source of income to make ends meet. Employment income is often combined with Social Security, pensions, or disability benefits, illustrating the reality that many residents piece together several modest income streams rather than relying on a single source.

Our residents represent some of the lowest-income households in our region. More than half qualify as Extremely Low Income, and approximately 70% receive rental assistance to help keep housing affordable. On average, the apartments in our portfolio rent for about $1,250 per month, while residents pay an average of $731 per month out of pocket. Rental assistance bridges that gap, making it possible for seniors, working households, and people with disabilities to remain safely housed while paying a rent that reflects their income rather than the full cost of housing.

Our resident community includes people from a variety of racial and ethnic backgrounds. Among households that reported race, 93% identified as White, while 7% identified as Black, Asian, American Indian, multiracial, or another race. Approximately 2% of households identified as Hispanic or Latino. Like the broader Addison County community, our residents come from a range of backgrounds and life experiences, united by the need for safe, stable, and affordable housing.

Ultimately, these numbers reinforce something we see every day: affordable housing serves seniors living on retirement income, working adults, people with disabilities, and families striving to remain in the communities they call home.
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Behind every statistic is a neighbor. Affordable housing isn't simply about lowering housing costs—it's about preserving stability, strengthening communities, and ensuring that people of all backgrounds and income levels have the opportunity to call Addison County home.