Vermont Tiny Home News

Can tiny homes help solve a big problem? Jan. 14th, 2020

BARRE CITY, Vt. (WCAX) Solving the homeless problem is complex. It involves creative solutions from a variety of experts. Social and health care workers, architects and building and trades, as well as philanthropic entities, must unite in an effort to house the homeless. Our Lance MacKenzie shows you how a collaborative effort in Central Vermont is finding success.

Many of the homeless in our communities experience mental health challenges. And the state provides vouchers to help people through a homeless transition period. However, apartments or hotels are sometimes not the best solution because of shared walls.

Article Source WCAX 3

Tiny Houses in Middlebury Gain Ground Dec. 5th, 2019

The nationwide tiny house movement has come to Middlebury in the latest solution to affordable housing. Homes First, a grassroots organization founded and based in Middlebury, is hoping to bring a village of tiny houses to town as a form of affordable, dignified housing.

“It all started with one woman about a year and a half ago,” said Mary Beth Simons, one of the original members of Homes First. “She wanted to do something about the housing problem in Middlebury, and so she went to a housing coalition meeting.” That woman, Middlebury resident Andrea Galiano, was then introduced to Ingrid Pixley, a member of the Counseling Service of Addison County and dedicated Charter House Coalition, who shared similar ideas to Simons. They decided to team up to try and find a solution to affordable housing in Middlebury.

Article Source Middlebury Campus

Vermont program aims to modernize local zoning rules Oct. 30th, 2019

With a land area of only 2.4 square miles, the city of Vergennes is one of Vermont’s smallest municipalities. But it nonetheless faces the same problems with sprawl and land use as some of its much bigger counterparts.

Next week, Vergennes will take part in a process designed to help municipal planners and zoners figure out how to refine their rules to allow more of the type of residential development that planners are seeking: affordable, low-impact and close to downtowns.

Vergennes was one of six municipalities chosen to participate in the Vermont program aimed at modernizing local zoning codes. Right now, Vergennes limits most construction of new homes to lots that are at least a third of an acre. City officials know that encourages sprawl and prevents the construction of high-density affordable housing near the downtown area.

Article Source VTDigger

Vermont youth rethink “tiny” housing Oct. 16th, 2019

Tiny House Fest Vermont presenters connect the dots on housing and community across generations. 

In experience-based educational programs around the state, Vermont youth are discovering that there’s more to a tiny house than the build. At Tiny House Fest Vermont on October 27th, 2019, three groups will report on their investigations into housing policy and people’s housing needs in Vermont and beyond.

Fest co-founder and producer Erin Maile O’Keefe is excited that presenters will include middle school, high school and college age youth groups. “When it comes to human habitation we’ve focused on narrow subject silos, and we are far from having what we need. We are also so far from having something viable to leave for future generations.

Article Source VTDigger

Are Tiny Houses a Solution to Vermont’s Housing Issues? Sept. 14th, 2019

If you’ve been on Instagram in the past decade, you’ve probably seen a tiny house. These pocket-size abodes are cute, wholesome and minimalist — and can look like an easy remedy to our often overstuffed, overstimulated lives. And the social media hashtags, of course, abound: #tinyhouse, #tinyliving, #homeiswhereyouparkit, #houselessnothomeless.ys

Affordable housing campaign lags in Chittenden County Sept. 9th, 2019

Torpy says they have a waitlist that’s 850 families long. Part of the goal of the Building Homes Together Campaign, which they worked on along with other regional partners, was to help fix that and other housing cost concerns.

In the last three years, 2,300 homes were added in Chittenden County. That averages out to about 760 or so a year.

Only 280 of those were classified as “affordable” for people with low and moderate incomes. The goal was 420.

Article Source WCAX

Tiny lifestyle meets challenges in Vermont July 18th, 2019

Chrissy Bellmyer is one of many Vermont tiny home owners forced to live ‘under the radar.’

Bellmyer built her Chittenden County home in the summer of 2015 and moved in the following January. Her home is near Essex, she said, but declined to say where exactly because she’s worried about zoning and building code complaints.

Article Source Burlington Free Press