Ten years ago, we interviewed shared equity homeowner Heather Gruen about her experience of becoming a homeowner through Champlain Housing Trust. Heather’s story highlighted the sense of community and place that becoming a homeowner provides. She talked at the time about how her new home made her feel like she really had a future in Burlington, alongside her rescued rabbit, Buddy.
“It’s a matter of being patient, finding the right thing and being creative with how you use it,” she explained at the time.
In the ten years since, Heather truly has made the most out of her experience. One of the biggest highlights was being able to host family gatherings during the holiday season. That’s something she looked forward to doing for years.
“Having a place where the whole family could come over means so much.”
Her condo in Burlington’s New North End is a true reflection of her taste. She is especially passionate about reusing and recycling items rather than simply throwing them away. Her house is filled with functional secondhand items that might otherwise have been tossed out. She loves to swap items with neighbors rather than purchase things new.
Seeing the cost of housing continue to rise over the last decade has also made her grateful for her home.
“I don’t know how they’re doing it anymore. The rent is as much as New York City, and I have friends who rent from certain landlords and have so many problems,” says Heather.
Sadly, Heather’s much loved original roommate Buddy passed a few years ago, but she’s glad to have welcomed a new rescue rabbit, Sweetie. While we talk, she sits in her nearby cage with a cautious eye on the visitors in the room.
“Kudos to Champlain Housing Trust for seeing this problem and trying to fix this,” says Heather. “I wouldn’t have been able to do it without you guys.”