10 Years of Community
In 2016, when Bree Lemay participated in the ribbon cutting at her new home at Champlain Housing Trust’s Bright Street housing cooperative in Burlington, she didn’t anticipate being there a decade later.
At that time, she described living in her co-op apartment as a “stepping stone, a middle ground between renting and owning.” Instead, 10 years later, Bree found that the co-op community in the Old North End provided a stable, permanently affordable home for her family that she has no interest in leaving anytime soon.
“This place is just so convenient for us,” says Bree. “It allows me to still have a life, to do things with my kids. Everything out there is so astronomically expensive, this place means a lot of freedom.”
When we interviewed Bree back in 2016, she and her 6-year-old son Niah were living in a smaller two-bedroom apartment. After her daughter Imaan was born, they moved into a three-bedroom with a welcoming front porch and back door access to Bright Street’s outdoor community space. The living area is fittingly bright with natural light and decorated with many of Imaan’s stuffed animals lining the sofa – just as Niah had done 10 years earlier.
“This place is amazing for us, and the reality is anyone is just one step away from being that unhoused person on the street. Anything can happen,” Bree said.
The COVID pandemic was a strong reminder of that vulnerability. Bree is a hairstylist and small business owner. Like so many others, she was unable to work during lockdown. The financial stress along with homeschooling Niah and caring for then 2-year-old Imaan took a toll.
“It was a lot. I feel like people still haven’t fully recovered from the pandemic but knowing that the rent here was affordable made a big difference.”
Today Niah is 16 and Imaan is 8, and the family welcomed a cat, Ralph, in 2023. As the family has grown, the size of their new home suits them nicely.
“It’s been really great being in this apartment and having the added space is helpful,” she says. “I specifically sought this place out. Being the mother of two children, I really needed to be smart about finances. This apartment is attainable for our lifestyle,” says Bree.
The sense of community at Bright Street Co-op is another benefit. Co-op members share more than walls. They make decisions together about their property and collaborate to keep things running smoothly. It fosters a unique sense of shared ownership among members.
“It’s an interesting mix, because in a co-op there are so many different personalities – it’s kind of like an extended family,” she says.
As the co-op celebrates its 10th anniversary, Bree, Niah, and Imaan are happily settled as part of that family. Through a decade of change and uncertainty, their home has remained a sanctuary.
When asked what she would say to her 2016 self who had just moved into her co-op apartment, Bree’s response is short and simple: “You’re smart. You’re making the right decision.”