Highly affordable and energy-efficient Vermod for sale through Addison County Community Trust's Shared Equity Program. This well-maintained three-bedroom modular home built in 2014 is located in a small quiet park within an easy commute to Burlington as well as Middlebury, Bristol, and Vergennes. Ten-inch walls and a super-efficient heat pump keep this home toasty warm in winter and cool in summer. The CERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) provides not only heat but also A/C and dehumidification! Easy one-level living, with open plan kitchen/living/dining room. At one end of the home, you will find a private master bedroom with double closets and adjacent bath, conveniently separated from two smaller bedrooms at the other end.  Energy-efficient windows let in lots of light while keeping out the cold.  Ready to move right in!

Just appraised for $123,000, this home is being offered through ACCT's Shared Equity Program for $46,500 to income-qualified buyers. More info available on ACCT's website at http://www.addisontrust.org/shared-equity-program.html. 

Are you a mobile home park resident confused about how to file your HS-122 to have your property taxes income-adjusted? Just looking for help with your taxes?  There are volunteers who will help you do your taxes for free!

Thanks to the generous support of this community, we met our matching goal!  Neagley Chase matched $1,000 of donations, RK Miles matched $1,000, and Silver Maple Construction matched $500, bringing $2,500 in donations up to $5,000.  And, we raised $2,010 on top of that!  

Because of your support, we are able to make it possible for our local family, friends, and neighbors to have an affordable home.

A home where they can keep their family safe and healthy. 

Where they can take pride and thrive—maybe save up for college or simply not have to choose between paying rent and putting dinner on the table. 

Where they can reduce their carbon footprint by living in energy-efficient properties near job centers, reducing their commute and contributing to our vibrant downtown economies. 

Where seniors can live as independently as possible with their own place to call home and programs like SASH to help them stay healthy—physically, emotionally, and socially. 

Your donation doesn’t just provide housing: it builds homes!  

For the past 37 years Mary’s Restaurant at Inn at Baldwin Creek in Bristol has been serving a FREE Christmas dinner for Addison County residents.  The dinner is targeted for low-income and elderly Addison County residents, but it is open to all. This year, it will be held Sunday, December 15 (see below for more info).
 
FREE ACTR transportation is available to those needing a ride.  ACTR is asking riders to please call by noon on Thursday the 12th to reserve their ride.  We want to make sure we have enough seats for everyone who wants to attend!

Bus itinerary:
The Meadows                   11:30am
Commons                           11:34
Academy St Hub               11:42
John Graham Shelter      12:05pm
Armory Lane Housing     12:08
Bristol Green                     12:30
Mary’s Restaurant           12:40
Return transportation also provided as soon as all diners in our group have been served.

Do you enjoy working with people, supporting communities, and getting your hands dirty?  ACCT is partnering with the Vermont Community Garden Network and Housing Vermont to hire a part-time seasonal Garden Coordinator to help out at our properties with community gardens by supporting residents in their gardening endeavors.  Community gardens have many health benefits from increased food security to enhanced community and social connections. The position is sponsored by the Vermont Community Garden Network.  Visit http://vcgn.org/get-involved/jobs/ for more info and to apply!

Back in October, ACCT (along with Northern Daughters Art Gallery and CSAC) co-sponsored a screening of "Beyond Hoarding" at Vergennes Opera House presented by John Graham Housing and Services and the Hoarding Task Force.  In addition to covering the costs of the screening, the event also raised over $100 for the Hoarding Task Force transfer station fees fund.  As many as 2,000 people in Addison County are currently struggling with hoarding disorder.  47 people came out to the screening on a Sunday afternoon, a testament to how many lives are touched by this difficult issue.  ACCT is working to support events like this and partners with the Hoarding Task Force to try to affect better outcomes for residents who might have a hoarding issue jeopardizing their housing, as hoarding is a leading cause of eviction besides non-payment of rent.  

There is help in Addison County, accessible to all, regardless of their financial situation! Reach out to Ellen Repstad; erepstad@gmail.com; for more information, to make a referral, or if you are interested in joining the taskforce. All are welcome! 

We had a busy fall at ACCT and can hardly believe December is upon us already!  We broke ground at Vergennes Community Housing, co-sponsored a successful and informative hoarding workshop by John Graham Shelter and the Hoarding Task Force along with CSAC and Northern Daughters Art Gallery, and leased up half a dozen new families and individuals, including several who were recently homeless and now have permanent housing!  Check out these stories and more on the blog.

Your Gift Matters!

We have been creating affordable housing and conserving land for 30 years. Our mission is to ensure that residents of Addison County have access to a solid foundation: a safe, affordable place to call home.

As of 2019, ACCT owns and operates almost 700 units of permanently affordable housing, with more homes on the way!  We do so in five key areas:

·         Property management for 274 multifamily apartments;

·         Operation of 340 lots in nine nonprofit ACCT-owned parks for owner-occupied mobile homes;

·         Down-payment grants for first-time home-buyers and stewardship of 78 homes currently in our perpetually affordable single-family ownership program;

·         Providing "Support and Services at Home" through the SASH program for up to 200 residents of ACCT senior housing & in surrounding communities;

·         Developing new units to help alleviate the county's affordability crisis, including 24 brand-new, energy efficient, modern apartments at Vergennes Community Housing that will be available in 2020.

This year, ACCT celebrated our 30th Anniversary at our Sip to Support!!  The local community came out to support us in spades, raising around $8,000 for affordable housing. We couldn't be more grateful.      

Help us continue to provide affordable housing for the next 30 years.  Your gift helps keep rent affordable and makes it possible for over 600 families to live and work right here in Addison County.    

We gratefully accept donations of any size, and ask that you consider making a tax-deductible donation of $1, $2, or even $10 for every year you've had a roof over your head. You can donate online at www.addisontrust.org/donate, or send us a check at PO Box 311, Vergennes, VT 05491.  Thank you!

At ACCT, our motto is "it all starts with a home."  

 

Please see below for a pair of opportunities from community partners that might be useful to ACCT residents and/or applicants:

Homeward Bound's Pets in Crisis Program: Homeward Bound recently received a year's worth of grant funding for Pets in Crisis, a program that offers free temporary boarding and basic medical care to pets of people who are experiencing unexpected homelessness.  More info is available at https://www.homewardboundanimals.org/programs-services/pets-in-crisis/, or call the shelter at 802-388-1100, ext 222 for Jess.

Job Corps Seeking  to Enroll Young Women in Education and Training: We are conducting a state wide campaign for young women to attend the Job Corps program and take advantage of this wonderful, no cost opportunity. We’re looking for your help and support.
 
Job Corps is a tuition-free trade education program for young adults who are out of school and interested in beginning a career path into long term employment.  Job Corps students receive all meals, on campus housing and basic healthcare at no cost.  Job Corps is also able to provide students with driver’s licenses, high school diplomas, work-based learning experiences, apprenticeships and a college opportunity.  Upon completion of the program, graduates enter the world of work (with the help of a career transition counselor), continue with college, enlist in the military or pursue advanced training opportunities through Job Corps.
 
Northlands Job Corps offers careers in Culinary Arts, Office Administration, Clinical Medical Assistant, Building Construction Technology (which encompasses electrical, plumbing, carpentry and solar panel competencies), Auto Tech (maintenance and light repair), Welding, Urban Forestry and Carpentry.  All Job Corps trade certifications are nationally recognized.  We encourage all young women to explore non-traditional vocations!
 
In addition to a career opportunity, students, once completed with their on-center program, may attend CCV, at no charge and continue in the Job Corps program.
 
Students can live on our campus in Vergennes, VT or can be a daily commuter student. We provide transportation within a 25 mile radius of Vergennes, which is ideal for women with children or who are employed and want to keep their job and still attend Job Corps.
 
We offer center tours twice a month for any interested candidates. The next CENTER TOURS will be held on August 26th and September 9th, beginning at 10:00am. Please call for more information.
 
We are seeking self-motivated young women, between the ages of 16 and 24, who meet our income eligibility standards, respond well to supervision, have no open court cases, will do well living in a dormitory with other students or who can handle the rigor of daily commute.  (Please bear in mind that all enrollees are required to pass a drug test upon arrival on center.)
 
If you know a young women who could benefit from the Job Corps program, please contact our Outreach and Admissions Manager, Sue Clark, at 802-877-0110. We would be happy to provide more information, conduct a presentation to you and your organization, or provide a tour of our campus.