The lack of accessible, affordable housing in Vermont is also a significant obstacle to job creation and I hear about the housing crisis everywhere I go.  

I hear it from senior citizens, who would like to downsize to a smaller home but find that those small homes now carry a big price tag.

I hear it from young families just starting out, and working Vermonters just trying to get by, who are frustrated by the lack of housing inventory and the high prices.

I hear it from employers, large and small, who tell me that the lack of affordable housing is impacting their ability to grow and expand their operations in Vermont.

As demand has exceeded supply over the years, prices have risen – astronomically in some communities – putting the dream of homeownership further and further out of reach for Vermonters of modest means.  In fact, while the average household income has risen a respectable 3.7%, the median cost of a home surged 10% per year – almost triple the rate of income growth.  The median price for a home in Vermont is now approaching $200,000.  

More and more working Vermonters find themselves unable to afford homes in the communities where they work. They are forced to rent or to purchase homes elsewhere and spend time commuting that could be better spent with their families and in their communities. 

That is why I have advanced the Homes for Vermonters proposal.  This new initiative is designed to put home ownership within reach of thousands of hard working Vermonters who are the heart and soul of our state and our communities.  

Working with our partners in the non-profit and private sector, we will advance new incentives to create housing units in Vermont, we will confront this housing crisis head on and we will work to provide all Vermonters access to a safe and affordable home to call their own.