June & July Highlights
Our Family Support Program continues to make a difference in residents’ lives across our communities. In recent months, we’ve seen how many residents face challenges that often go unaddressed by other providers—such as low literacy, the complexities of aging, and serious health conditions. By building trust and offering steady support, advocacy, and connection, we help residents navigate these barriers and remain safely housed. Here are a few stories from June and July that illustrate this impact.

Supporting Stability at Home
One Addison County mother, raising three teenagers on her own, was referred for help after an inspection revealed that housekeeping issues were creating potential health and fire safety hazards in her apartment. Through consistent check-ins, she’s tackled the work step by step—starting with the kitchen, then the hallway, and beyond. With the right supplies, encouragement, and regular meetings, she’s making lasting progress ensuring a safe and healthy environment for her family. As she put it: “I really like our meetings and your support.”

Navigating Housing Paperwork
For one longtime resident who cannot read or write, the annual housing voucher recertification process felt overwhelming. By building a supportive relationship, our staff were able to help him gather the right documents, connect with Social Security, and keep his Section 8 voucher current—ensuring he didn’t lose his housing.

Another resident with a traumatic brain injury was struggling with back rent after not understanding a change in his subsidy. Usually hard to reach, he was able to bond with Family Support Coordinator Kaio over shared affection for Steven Segal movies, and together they were able to review his rental portion, apply for emergency assistance, and resolve the arrears. Today, he’s current on his rent and says simply: “I’m all set up now.”

Consistent Support for Seniors
At 85, one resident shared how overwhelming it can be to manage the annual recertification paperwork for affordable housing. For the past three years, our staff have been there each summer to guide her through gathering income documents and completing the process. That continuity makes it possible for her to remain safely housed and stress-free.

Moving to Vermont and Starting Fresh
A newer resident who recently relocated from another state needed help transferring her Medicare benefits to Vermont and paying a security deposit after moving in. She hadn’t felt comfortable reaching out to other providers, but she connected easily with our Family Support staff. With support, she was able to secure financial assistance and settle into her new home with confidence.

Adjusting to New Health Needs
One former farmer, recently retired, was hospitalized this summer and now requires a first-floor apartment. Our team helped him get on the waitlist for an accessible unit and secure a reasonable accommodation request. Though he misses farm life, he’s adjusting with a positive spirit and is grateful to have advocacy and support as his needs change.

Home Repair Impact
This summer, our team helped residents access more than $20,000 in Manufactured Housing Improvement and Repair (MHIR) program funding for health and safety investment. Projects included new flooring in living rooms and bathrooms, plumbing and shower repairs, and essential improvements like roofing, doors, and skirting. These repairs ensure that homes remain safe, livable, and secure for residents who might otherwise go without.

Thank you to all staff, partners, and community members who make this work possible. Together, we’re helping residents stay safe, stable, and supported in their homes.

It’s been a seismic summer, with housing and essential services squarely at the forefront of national attention. At Addison Housing Works, we’re working to stay engaged and responsive amid ongoing volatility, always with our residents’ safety and security as the bottom line.

It seems like every day brings new data pointing to the consequences of federal retrenchment. Two recent reports from the Urban Institute stand out. One offers an interactive look at the geographic footprint of households that rely on both Medicaid and SNAP: over 12 million across the U.S., including many in rural regions like ours. Cuts to either program don’t just affect health or hunger in isolation; they ripple directly into housing stability.

The second report is just as clear: when there isn’t enough affordable housing, more children and youth experience homelessness. Over the past 17 years, the number of homeless K–12 students has risen nearly 80%. These young people face chronic absenteeism, lower graduation rates, and compounding disadvantage. If we’re serious about educational equity, we have to be serious about housing supply.

We’re also seeing growing evidence of what does move the needle, right from our own back yard. A new paper from a Middlebury College economics professor and student is drawing national attention for its analysis of Minneapolis’s 2018 zoning reforms. By eliminating single-family-only zoning, the city saw rents and home prices fall by double digits. The research offers a compelling argument for how local land use reform can impact affordability even before a single unit is built.

All of this reinforces why our work matters—not just the homes we develop and manage, but the systems-level engagement we bring to the table. Thank you for staying in this with us.

By Elise Shanbacker, Executive Director

What do healthcare, education, and economic development have in common? Housing is at the root of Vermont’s current challenges with all of them. We can’t fix these systems unless we start with housing.

Right now, about one in 20 Addison County households lives in a permanently affordable home stewarded by Addison Housing Works. These are seniors aging safely in place, families rebuilding after homelessness, childcare workers and grocery clerks trying to stay in the communities they serve. And demand is only growing. With more than 200 households on our waiting list and only 40–50 apartments turning over each year, it can take five years to access a stable, affordable place to live.

Rental vouchers have long been a critical tool in helping low-income Vermonters afford market-rate housing. But that tool is quickly disappearing. The recent loss of state-issued vouchers has meant that households who did everything right—secured temporary aid, stabilized their lives, and waited their turn—are now finding the rug pulled out from under them.

The ripple effects go far beyond individual families. Market rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Addison County is about $1,410 per month. Someone earning $40,000 a year can realistically afford $1,000. Without a voucher, they’re forced to pay 42% of their income on housing—if they can find a unit at all.

This affordability gap is not just a social equity issue; it’s an economic one. If you care about inflation, you should care about the housing wage—the gap between what people earn and what they need to afford rent. When housing is scarce and expensive, wages must rise just so workers can stay local. That drives up costs for employers, which get passed on to consumers. The housing shortage is fueling the rising cost of everything from eldercare to car repairs.

At the same time, our ability to build new housing is constrained by the high cost of construction and the limited number of sites with access to municipal infrastructure. We need policies that help unlock developable land—like the Act 181 and CHIP planning processes now underway—and serious investment in community-scale infrastructure, especially for rural areas with aging water and septic systems.

One bright spot is manufactured housing. Modern manufactured homes are high-quality, energy-efficient, and cost a quarter of what it takes to build traditional housing. With average lot rent under $500 per month, they offer a rare path to affordable homeownership without deep government subsidy. But many existing manufactured housing communities face urgent infrastructure needs, and unlike towns, they can’t bond for upgrades. Sustained state and federal investment is essential to keep these communities viable.

Housing isn't a niche issue. It's the foundation everything else rests on. As federal cuts hit housing, food, and healthcare programs, we’re facing a moment that calls for real clarity and commitment. If we want Addison County to stay resilient and livable, we have to be willing to invest in the basics. That means housing. The real question isn’t whether we can afford to act. It’s whether we can afford to wait.

When Nancy Tanner moved into Firehouse Apartments, it marked the end of an era—she had spent 65 years in the same home before making the transition. At 90 years old, the idea of starting somewhere new was daunting. But with encouragement from her son, Nancy took a leap of faith. Today, she’s glad she did.

Nancy has lived at Firehouse since the property opened and has settled in with grace and good humor. “It’s very easy to clean,” she joked. “I can mop the whole place in one pass!”
But more important than square footage or convenience is the sense of connection. Nancy says she feels safe and supported at Firehouse—something she doesn’t take for granted. “The people look out for me,” she shared. “And I even like some of them too,” she added with a laugh.

One of her favorite daily rituals is having tea with a neighbor. It’s a simple act, but one that brings comfort and routine to her day. Over time, these small connections have helped Nancy feel at home in her new space.
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Nancy’s story is a reminder of why safe, affordable housing matters at every age. At Firehouse Apartments, independence and community go hand in hand—making it possible for longtime Vermonters like Nancy to continue living with dignity, friendship, and peace of mind.

AHW's June Board meeting will be held at 4pm on Thursday, June 26th, at the National Bank of Middlebury main branch and via Zoom. Download the Agenda and email us to request a copy of the packet.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2025 Annual Meeting! It was a lovely evening of being together in community. The meeting covered Addison Housing Works' annual report, financial overview, and resident testimonials, highlighting the organization's achievements in providing affordable housing and community support. Board business was conducted, including approving minutes and electing directors and officers. The conversation ended with discussions on housing challenges and recognition of contributions to the organization.

In particular, we recognized Jon Crystal for his eight years of dedicated board service. Though his term has ended, his contributions will continue to bear fruit for AHW and our residents. In that spirit, we planted a flowering crab apple tree at McKnight Lane in Jon's hometown of Waltham. As you drive by on South Maple Street, the tree serves as a reminder of how entire communities flourish from affordable housing and the work of people like Jon.

Help us celebrate a year of progress and partnership as we reflect on our 2024 accomplishments, hold board elections, and explore timely housing issues facing our region.

Thursday, May 22, 4pm - 6pm
Town Hall Theater, Middlebury & Zoom

We’re excited to gather in the beautiful new Anderson Studio community space at Town Hall Theater—a fitting venue to highlight how housing and community spaces work together to build strong, vibrant communities. With the demand for affordable homes at an all-time high, this is a moment to come together, share ideas, and reaffirm our commitment to ensuring everyone has a safe, stable place to call home. The business portion of the meeting will run from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. followed by a reception with light fare and cash bar from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. to ensure ample time for connecting with residents, board members, and neighbors. Whether you're deeply involved or simply curious about our work, all are welcome to attend.

• Agenda & Slate
• 2024 Annual Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of AHW's Board of Directors will meet on Thursday, April 24, at 4:30pm at ONECU at 48 Green St in Vergennes, and via Zoom. Please use the form below to RSVP and receive the Zoom link. 

• Agenda
  
• March Minutes
  

Paul, a long-time AHW resident who lives alone in historic Smallest City apartments in downtown Vergennes, has built a strong and supportive connection with Kaio, one of our Family Support Coordinators. The two meet regularly in Paul’s apartment, where Kaio helps with everything from managing paperwork to coordinating medical care.

Recently, Kaio supported Paul through the process of applying for moderate-needs services under the Choices for Care Medicaid program. Paul was approved and is now moving up the waitlist for a personal care attendant—someone who can help with household chores he’s no longer able to do on his own. In the meantime, Kaio has helped him create a budget, resolve an old cable bill, and stay on top of medical appointments, especially for a long-standing foot injury that made it hard for Paul to get around.

With the right support, Paul is now feeling more mobile, more connected, and better able to live independently in his home. He’s especially grateful for the relationship he’s built with Kaio—and when he’s not working through paperwork, you’ll likely find him relaxing with one of the many DVDs in his impressive movie collection.