A Stable Home Photos courtesy of Glenn Russell Before moving into her new apartment in Williston, Michelle Lucas had been without housing for more than four years. She bounced between motels rooms funded by the State or friends’ homes but couldn’t find stability – especially hard as she struggled with multiple health challenges ranging from […]
I Feel Like I’m Home Laurie Grant lived with her mother for six years and was perfectly content, but when her mom passed away in 2018, Laurie needed a change. “There were too many painful reminders everywhere I looked,” she said. Laurie applied for an apartment from Champlain Housing Trust and over the next […]
Joanne Heidkamp and Paul Demers moved to Vermont from Cincinnati in the mid-1990s and found a house in a quiet neighborhood in South Burlington. They felt a wonderful sense of community. “You can always borrow a tool, and you’re happy to feed someone’s cat. Outgrown clothes and toys are passed along from house to house. […]
Seated on his couch in a large open living room and dining space in his home in the Old North End of Burlington, Ganesh Adhikari is surrounded by pictures of loved ones, family heirlooms and decorations. On one wall there’s a video game console connected to the TV with games stacked on top. It’s the […]
Good Neighbors Having a Quiet Home to Rest and Relax is Essential to this Resident of Avenue Apartments [Note: On August 12, 2023, Ahmed Omar died in his sleep unexpectedly. Our thoughts are with his family and many friends. A GoFundMe page has been set up to support them in this difficult time.] Ahmed […]
It Didn’t Get Any Better Than That Wanda Hines knows exactly how to count the years she owned her home on Oak Street in Burlington’s Old North End: she was pregnant with her son at the time. “My son was born in April of 1998 and we closed on the house the following year,” […]
Music Man Alban Malanda loves to connect with people. It’s one reason why he offered to serve as a member of Champlain Housing Trust’s Rental Resident Advisory Committee. He feels it’s important that residents have a place to advocate for themselves. “That’s a place where my voice can easily be heard relating to some […]
Homeownership Security through Shared Equity Steve and Rachel Smith knew there was plenty of work to do if they wanted to become homeowners. They lacked savings but were working to get their debt paid down. Homeownership seemed like something that was still far off in the distance, but they were committed to owning their […]
My Dream House Junny Tsiba, a refugee from Congo Brazzaville, spent two years preparing to buy her home. “Renting was fine, but having your own place makes you live the American dream and rewards me for my hard work,” she explained. And hard work it was. Her brand new home in Burlington’s New North […]
A Foot in the Door Homeownership Becomes a Reality Through the Shared Equity Program It takes Tara Burke, a Champlain Housing Trust shared equity homeowner in Milton, a few moments to count up the number of apartments she’s rented around Burlington over the years. “Let’s see, Pine Street, Hayward Street, St. Paul Street, Adams […]
Helping Others Helps Me Resident Board member finds passion for community involvement When Antoinette Bennett-Jones was a new mother with her daughter, she found herself suddenly homeless and the value of affordable housing came clearly into focus. That was thirteen years ago. Having an affordable apartment and support felt even more critical when her […]
Building Wealth with Shared Equity When asked her favorite thing about her home in Colchester, Molly Doherty has a quick answer. While she really appreciates the natural light and original hardwood floors, something else comes out first. “It’s mine!” Room by room, she is starting to make the third floor walk-up her own. She […]
