Burlington council unanimously directs staff to study doubling city investment in housing trust fund

The Burlington City Council voted unanimously on Feb. 10 to ask city staff to produce a report outlining ways to increase funding for the Burlington Housing Trust Fund by at least $1,000,000 and to identify options that would be revenue-neutral or targeted at high-income residents, large businesses or visitors.

Supporters told the council during the meeting's public forum and deliberative session that the trust fund has a long track record of producing permanently affordable units and that larger, recurring city investment is needed to meet mounting demand. "I urge you to support the housing trust and fund resolution and engage with the city's very talented CDO office to find a way to increase its funding," said Amy Wright, speaking from her experience developing family and senior affordable housing.

The resolution sponsor, Councilor Kathryn Neubieser, described the motion as a first step toward expanding a local funding stream that has helped develop perpetually affordable housing in Burlington. "The report asks city staff to produce a variety of ways we can increase funding for the housing trust fund by at least $1,000,000," Neubieser said when she presented the measure to the council.

Why it matters: Speakers and councilors alike framed affordable housing as an urgent local priority tied to public safety and the city's economic health. Housing advocates described long-term demand and affordability gaps in Burlington: "An estimated 250 plus people are sleeping unsheltered in our area after the mass on housing from motels," said longtime housing advocate Erhard Monke during public forum, who also reviewed local rent and income figures the council heard for context.

Details and supporting points: Testimony from nonprofit and resident speakers emphasized the trust fund's past impact and current needs. Amy Dimitrowitz, chief operating officer of the Champlain Housing Trust, told the council the trust fund has been "an essential tool" and credited it with helping build or renovate more than 600 apartments in Burlington over several decades, and with enabling permanently affordable for-sale condominiums in recent Cambrian Rise work.

Council discussion touched on revenue sources and implementation safeguards. The resolution asks staff to include both actions available under current city authority and measures that would require charter or other changes. Several councilors requested that staff attach recent trust-fund financial reports and disbursement records when the item is reviewed by the Community Development, Neighborhoods and Recreation (CDNR) committee.

Action and next steps: Councilors voted to waive the reading and adopt the resolution as amended. The resolution requests a staff report outlining options to reach at least $1,000,000 in additional annual investment; the council directed that the report be presented to the appropriate committee (CDNR) and specified deadlines in committee referral. The council recorded the motion, a second, and a unanimous vote in favor.

Community context and clarifying details: Testimony offered numeric context and program details the council asked staff to include in their analysis: - Current and historical balances: A councilor noted the trust fund balance rose from about $130,000 in FY2022 to nearly $3,000,000 at the time of the meeting. (Councilor Barlow) - Sponsor target: The resolution specifies exploring ways to increase annual trust-fund investment by at least $1,000,000, described by the sponsor as roughly a doubling of current typical annual funding levels. - Program outcomes cited by speakers: Champlain Housing Trust representatives described projects supported by trust funds (e.g., Cambrian Rise developments, permanently affordable for-sale condominiums with average net prices proposed at about $200,000 for households under 80% AMI). - Local needs cited in public comment: Speakers referenced low vacancy rates, one-bedroom rents around $1,800 and two-bedroom rents near $2,300, and called for immediate and long-term solutions.

Ending note: With the council vote, staff will now prepare an options report for committee review that includes identified revenue pathways, projected yield, and implementation questions such as administrative capacity, allowable uses, and whether charter changes would be necessary. The council also asked that staff provide the trust fund's financial and grant-disbursement details to the CDNR committee when the analysis returns for consideration.