FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2021
CONTACT: Lisa Patlis, (802) 861-3814
Upper Valley Community Celebrates Completion of Affordable Apartments at Wentworth Community Housing in White River Junction
White River Junction, VT – Wednesday morning brought together residents, funders, community members, local legislators and two affordable housing organizations to celebrate the completion of the second phase of Wentworth Community Housing, 17 mixed-income apartments in White River Junction and four new apartments located a few miles away in the Village of Wilder.
Several prominent speakers, whose organizations were involved with the project, spoke of the dire need of affordable housing in the Upper Valley. “The need for affordable housing is immense, and the lasting impact that places like Wentworth Community Housing can have on residents and their families is undeniable,” said Josh Hanford, Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Housing and Community and Development.
Owners of the building, Twin Pines Housing and Evernorth, used Vermont’s Housing Revenue Bond (HRB) funds to finance its construction. The eight one-bedroom, eight two-bedroom, and one three-bedroom apartments are targeted to households earning between 80 and 120% of Area Median Income. In an effort to move closer to net zero energy, the building is entirely equipped with electric heating and ventilating, which will be substantially offset by Solar PV panels installed on the roof.
The new building includes a community space, onsite laundry, private entrances with patios or porches and the use of outdoor amenities, including community gardens, outdoor seating areas under a pergola, and play spaces.
“We’re delighted to welcome residents to the new apartments at Wentworth Community Housing,” said Andrew Winter, Executive Director of Twin Pines Housing. “All the funders involved with this project have enabled us to provide homes for a wide range of incomes, helping to address the Upper Valley’s critical need for new housing.”
Funding totaling $7.2 million was raised from numerous sources to cover the total development costs. Housing New England, Fund I is investing $4.2 million through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program which is administered locally by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. Vermont’s Housing for All Revenue Bond, administered through the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, added $1.8 million. Other sources of funds include Mascoma Bank which is providing a permanent loan, Vermont Community Development Program through the Town of Hartford, the US Department of Housing’s HOME program and an energy incentive through Efficiency Vermont. Funding for the remediation of contaminated soils at 1965 Hartford Avenue in Wilder was provided by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation’s Brownfield Response Program and the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development’s Brownfield Revolving Loan Fund.
Evernorth Co-President, Nancy Owens concurred that the construction of new mixed-income housing underscored the nonprofits’ commitment to solving one of the region’s most pressing problem’s – the severe shortage of affordable housing. “We understand that affordable housing resources are scarce and that the need is great,” Owens said. “The Housing Revenue Bond funding has enabled us to offer low and moderate income people comfortable, energy efficient and affordable homes in a community rich with job opportunities.”
About Twin Pines Housing Trust: Founded in 1990, Twin Pines Housing is the leading developer and provider of affordable housing in the Upper Valley region for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. Twin Pines Housing has a supportive services team that partners with several state agencies and local non-profits to provide the comprehensive mix of support services needed to keep people healthy and housed.
About Evernorth: Evernorth is a nonprofit organization serving the low and moderate income people of Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont with affordable housing and community investments. Evernorth has raised and deployed over $1B in equity capital for affordable housing and built more than 13,000 affordable homes and apartments for low and moderate income people across northern New England.
