Affordable Housing

  • The nation's mortgage crisis has hit families and individuals in every corner of the country. The national wave of foreclosures has started to hit Vermont and economists predict more foreclosures before we come out of this recession. I will advocate for continued support of the nonprofit housing groups and programs that help people keep their homes and educate people about homeownership before they buy.
  • Most working people in Burlington still face high rents and home prices. This is because demand for housing in our City is still high, and there is not enough supply. We need a zoning code that allows density where it makes sense. There are many areas of the City that could absorb higher densities in keeping with smart growth practices and I will support land use planning policies and codes that keep our tax base strong and make our City a desirable place to live.
  • The high demand for housing means that landlords don't always feel the pressure to keep their buildings in good repair or properly weatherized. The Old North End needs increased enforcement to keep apartments in better condition. I will support City programs and policies that make it easier for property owners to rehab and weatherize their buildings and make that housing safety codes are strongly enforced.
  • We also need to make sure that the colleges house more of their students. As UVM and Champlain College increase enrollment, they should be required to build more student housing so that working people don't have to compete for scarce apartments with groups of college students that pay rent by the bedroom.