Housing and conservation groups press Vermont House committee to fully fund VHCB at $36.9 million

Members of Vermont’s housing and conservation community urged the House Committee on General and Housing on Feb. 14 to fully fund the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) at the level recommended by the governor — $36.9 million — to maintain current programs and to support new, one-time housing investments.

The request came during a legislative day in which representatives of the Housing and Conservation Coalition and several nonprofit developers described completed and planned projects that they said rely on VHCB funding. “We ask each year that you support full funding for the Housing Conservation Board through the property transfer tax,” said Chris Donnelly, Champlain Housing Trust, noting the governor’s recommendation of $36.9 million.

Why it matters: Witnesses said VHCB dollars fund both permanently affordable housing and conservation projects that preserve farmland, forests and public-access recreation areas. Patrick Shattuck, executive director of Rural Edge, said VHCB-supported developments in the Northeast Kingdom have created and preserved long-term affordable units and emergency shelter capacity, and provide an ongoing local tax base.

Rural Edge projects and resident impact

Patrick Shattuck told the committee Rural Edge now manages close to 1,000 perpetually affordable units across the Northeast Kingdom and described multiple recent redevelopments. He said those investments have preserved housing stock generated in the 1980s and allow the nonprofit to plan for capital repairs through replacement reserves and capital needs assessments. Shattuck said VHCB-funded projects bring local property tax revenue — roughly $700,000 to $800,000 annually from his portfolio — and that about 43% of residents in Rural Edge units had been homeless prior to moving in; he also said about 70% of current residents have household incomes under $20,000 annually.

Shattuck described a West Burke redevelopment that consolidated multiple buildings and added eight units on-site and other infill units, and Newport Crossing, a redevelopment of the former Sacred Heart school and convent in Newport City. He said remediation investigations at Newport Crossing cost about $150,000 and that the project will create 26 rental units in the convent and 24 shared‑equity condominiums in the former school.

Resident testimony: former homelessness to stable housing

Hannah Pickett, a Champlain Housing Trust resident who lives at Zephyr Place (a former hotel converted into 72 apartments with VHCB funding), described losing housing after a disabling car accident and later receiving emergency hotel support, a housing voucher and permanent housing. “Because of my housing, I am safe, healthy, and even happy,” Pickett said, adding that resident services and on-site programming are important to daily life.

Conservation and community revitalization: West Windsor case study

Kate Wenner, conservation director with The Trust for Public Land, described a 10‑year conservation and community-revitalization project in West Windsor that the trust helped assemble. Wenner said VHCB provided a $300,000 grant toward a roughly $1 million acquisition that helped preserve the former Mount Ascutney ski area and expand the town forest, protect drinking-water sources and create multi-use recreation access. She said the acquisition, augmented by town funds (about $100,000), grants from the Open Space Institute (about $560,000), private foundations and donors, enabled new trails, a community outdoor center and increased year‑round visitation that aided local businesses.

Southwest Vermont organizational consolidation and projects

Mary Cohen, executive director of the newly formed Cornerstone Housing Partners (a merger of three southwest Vermont housing organizations), told the committee VHCB support helped the merger and several local projects. Cohen cited a West Rutland project that will create 24 new units and said VHCB investments leveraged nearly $10 million for that redevelopment. She also described planned renovations and additions at East Creek Commons (a 35‑unit complex to be renovated to 22 units in one phase) and a 30‑unit Regalwood Commons project poised to close in March; Cohen said VHCB funds plus tax credit equity are essential to those deals.

Requests and next steps

Witnesses asked the committee to: fully fund VHCB at the governor’s recommended level ($36.9 million), consider additional one-time housing investments to expand production, and maintain annual VHCB support for both housing and conservation activities. No formal vote or committee action on funding occurred during the hearing; the committee recessed for a brief break after the witnesses concluded.

Ending

Committee members thanked the witnesses for their testimony and personal stories. The committee did not take a vote; staff and members signaled they would hear additional witnesses scheduled that day for the Housing and Conservation Coalition’s legislative outreach.