Housing

I’ve knocked on over 3100 doors in our district since my campaign launch in March. I’m like a human Gallup poll for this district. One thing is loud and clear: we’ve got two housing crises, not one.

 Housing solutions cannot be pipe dreams, impossible plans, or designs for self-glorification that aren’t actionable. They have to be real.  

Every day I talk with…

• young Vermonters, often born here, in their 20s and 30s, who cannot afford to buy their first home and start a family here.  

• older Vermonters who would like to downsize to a condo and free up their home for a family, but have nowhere to go. 

There is so much more we can do: 

👉 Focus on Density:

• High density housing is a good first step for younger Vermonters and an attractive and more supportive step for older Vermonters looking to downsize. 

• It’s more sustainable.  

👉 Prioritize Housing for Vermonters over Out-of-State Investors: 

• We have a 30k housing unit shortage, and 60k second homes and short-term rentals. 

• The priority for housing coming on the market should go to Vermonters before they’re outbid and shut out.

👉 Vacancy Taxes:

• We all have vacant homes in our communities. I have three on my street alone. It’s time to get families in these homes.

👉 Clear the Path for ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units):

• Regulate to support ADUs and in-fill to create sustainable growth.

• the ground. We need to work together to build solutions that work, not ones that just sound good on paper.

I’d love for you to hear the deeper conversation we’ve been having on this.On my podcast, There’s No “A” in Creemee, we talked about housing with expert, and the head of Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Maura Collins.