Champlain Housing Trust engages in advocacy on all levels of government to ensure that the needs of our region are understood, shared and expanded on the community, state, federal and international stages. We work to make sure that are residents are supported through the effective operation and creation of public programs, focused on the following strategies:
- Locally, we work through the Building Homes Together campaign to encourage the development of housing in Chittenden County, with some of it dedicated as permanently affordable, to meet the needs of our region. We also work with municipalities and local activists to use tools such as housing trust funds and inclusionary zoning to increase opportunity for people of all incomes.
- On a statewide basis, we are a leader in both the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition to advance state policy and expand funding available to create and sustain affordable housing.
- During the pandemic, we led an effort to ensure that programs and resources were available to help people impacted by the public health emergency have access to rental and mortgage assistance, to create new housing for people experiencing homelessness, and to increase the provision of services to assist people in need statewide.
- Nationally we work through several networks to advance housing policy and funding programs to address the needs of people having trouble accessing the housing market. These networks include the National NeighborWorks Association, Housing Partnership Network, Grounded Solutions Network, and Rural LISC. We remain in close contact with our Congressional Delegation.
- Following the UN World Habitat Award recognition, CHT is increasingly called upon to share our story with people working in cities and countries around the globe, in both developed and under-developed nations. We do this work to advance housing justice worldwide and to learn more about the struggles of people around the world.