New REsident Spotlight: Greg and Jessica buy a brand new home in monkton

Greg and Jessica are lifelong Vermonters who recently purchased a brand new Energy Star manufactured home in Vaughn Park in Monkton. Jessica works from home as an insurance specialist, and Greg is retired and enjoys puttering around the house. They were kind enough to sit down with AHW Property Manager Chris Ouellette and share their story of how they came to find affordable housing with AHW.

Greg was born in St. Alban's and is a self-described "Air Force Brat" whose family moved around a lot. His family finally settled back down in Vermont about 30 years ago in the Milton area. Jessica grew up in Milton and after meeting Greg 25 years ago, they decided to stay in that area. They eventually moved in with Jessica’s parents helping each other out with expenses.

When Jessica’s parents decided to sell their home and make the move to Florida, Greg & Jessica were going to find themselves without housing. They found an apartment; however, it was being renovated due to flood damage from the July 2023 storms. While they waited for the renovations to be completed, they had to live in AirBnBs as there was no affordable housing to be found. Jessica had to close out a retirement account to afford the short-term rental while they waited for the apartment to be available, but it was taking so long.

Living in a short-term rental was far from ideal. Some of the Airbnb’s were very accommodating, offering discounts on their normal rates and some of their units were quite eye catching, "think Ms. Pacman" (pink & yellow, with Pacman’s going across the ceiling to every light fixture). But some had shower heads so low, they had to sit in the tub to shower. They even shared a unit with an Opera singer, who practiced frequently throughout the day and sometimes into the night.

In December 2023, they decided to look online at homes for sale and came across a new manufactured home at Vaughn Court in Monkton. AHW had worked with Fecteau Homes to fill a vacant lot in the park with a brand new Energy Star home. Greg and Jessica reached out to AHW to get some information about the home and find out what they would need to do to be able to purchase it. During December and January, they worked with both Fecteau Homes and AHW staff to complete the purchase. They also worked with Champlain Housing Trust for downpayment assistance and the Manufactured Housing Improvement and Repair Program for the concrete slab costs. On January 23, 2024, they became homeowners and residents of our Manufactured Housing Community at Vaughn Court.

How has your life changed since finding an affordable home with Addison Housing Works?
"Not having home stability or unsure where we were going to end up or what we were going to find for affordable housing, we were so stressed and anxious. Now, we are less stressed, and we finally have something to call our own." Jessica and Greg stated that every time when they round the corner, just before coming to the park, she says “I’m Home!”

What is it like living in the AHW community? What do you like best?
"It is quiet and we have met most of our neighbors. It is pretty quiet and easy going."

What do you love about your home?
"It is MINE!"

What would you like the community to know about affordable housing?
"The programs are there, and they work. All you have to do is ask, and people are willing to help you."

In 2023, AHW completed a $400,000 infrastructure project in Vaughn Park, replacing the aging pump house and rusty well components with a brand new above-grade structure and a new water distribution system serving the nine homes in the park. The project was made possible with a grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, as well as tax-exempt bond financing from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.