News & Ideas

Nothing illustrates the importance — and impact — of affordable housing and community development better than stories about the community itself. Learn about the people who develop and build the housing and the people who are built up because of it.

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Lyndonville Celebrates the Opening of 20 New Apartments

[Lyndonville, VT] On Thursday, October 29, the Lyndonville community celebrated the official grand opening of Olivia Place with a socially-distanced Pumpkin Walk named in memory of Olivia Beleau. RuralEdge and Evernorth (formerly NNEHIF & Housing Vermont) partnered to develop these 20 thoughtfully designed, energy-efficient apartments in two newly constructed buildings and are co-owners of Olivia Place.

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Vergennes Celebrates the Opening of 24 New Apartments near Downtown

[Vergennes, VT]  Today, the Vergennes community celebrated the official grand opening of Vergennes Community Apartments with socially-distanced property tours and live music. The Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) and Evernorth partnered to develop this highly energy-efficient, multi-family apartment building located on Armory Lane in close proximity to downtown Vergennes.  The Vergennes Community Apartments are located … Continued

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Rooting out racism in housing programs and policy

Affordable housing can promote health, build wealth, and change neighborhoods and lives. But housing is also used as a tool to divide communities, perpetuate unfair educational opportunities, reduce wealth, and sustain segregation. Racial inequality is rooted in our nation’s history of slavery, and it has been structurally maintained by public policy, including through housing and … Continued

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Partnering to put housing first

The basic premise of Housing First is simple. If someone is experiencing chronic homelessness – meaning they are continuously homeless for a year or more or have had four or more episodes of homelessness in three years – they are provided housing first and then given the support they need to work on other issues … Continued

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Creating homes for those who have served

Much progress has been made in housing veterans who experience homelessness in the U.S., and Northern New England is no exception. In 2019, the nonprofit agency Harbor Homes opened Boulder Point Veterans Housing, a 30-unit apartment complex in the town of Plymouth, New Hampshire. Harbor Homes is the largest member of Partnership for Successful Living (PSL), an affiliation … Continued

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Increasing support, reducing stigma

Manchester Housing & Redevelopment Authority (MHRA) is the largest public housing agency – and largest landlord – in Northern New England. MHRA is widely recognized for its array of supportive programming offered to residents, so when it was time to develop more affordable housing, the agency turned to one of its longtime service partners.  The … Continued

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The 10-year transformation of a neighborhood in Rutland, Vermont

In October 2018, Mayor David Allaire joined residents, funders, community members, and two affordable housing organizations to celebrate the completion of the Hickory Street Initiative. Speaking before a large gathering, Mayor Allaire stated, “We are very pleased as a City to see the transformation of this great neighborhood with the completion of Hickory Street. This … Continued

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Vermont’s Housing for All bond helps create workforce housing

In June 2019, Housing Vermont and Twin Pines Housing Trust brought together residents, funders, community members, and local legislators to celebrate the completion of Wentworth Community Housing which provides 30 new mixed-income apartments in downtown White River Junction.  The two organizations used Vermont’s Housing for All Revenue Bond (HRB) funds to finance its construction. The 15 one-bedroom and 15 two-bedroom apartments include nine targeted to households … Continued

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Community investment brings stability to Bellows Falls

The town of Bellows Falls, Vermont has experienced tough economic times, especially after the closure of the Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant in 2014. So, Vermont Rural Ventures (VRV)* partnered with Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation (MHIC) to keep – and add to – jobs in Bellows Falls.  The two organizations provided $21.5MM in New Markets … Continued

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