Affordable Housing
Affordable housing falls short of demand
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Overview
Scenic views and open spaces are easy to find in Vermont. But if you are part of the state’s moderate- to-low-income population, finding an affordable home close to your work can prove challenging. The affordable housing issue encompasses multiple Vermont interests including: preserving natural resources and green spaces, pursuing profitable development projects, attracting and retaining the workers who power the state’s economy, managing the length of commutes, and meeting baseline housing needs.
- In Vermont, 43,000 families experience a “severe burden,” spending more than 50% of their income on housing and utilities. Vermonters in this situation outnumber those in any other state in New England and the national average.
- The availability of rental homes in Vermont is 4.7% of total rental stock—a figure lower than that of any other state. The Vermont Housing Council estimates a current statewide shortage of 21,000 affordable rental units. The shortage is especially acute in Chittenden, Orleans, Bennington and Rutland counties.
- Nearly every major source of state and federal government support related to housing has declined significantly in recent years.
Read more about affordable housing in Understanding Vermont or get a copy of the entire publication.