Champlain Housing Trust

HOME ANNUAL REPORT FISCAL YEAR 2016 MISSION The Champlain Housing Trust is a Community Dear Members, Partners and Friends, Land Trust that supports the people of Northwest Vermont and strengthens As 2016 comes to a close it is hard to find words that Our collaboration between their communities through haven’t been spoken or written to describe the period of the UVM Medical Center, the development and upheaval we’re in and the scale of uncertainty we face. In Community Health stewardship of permanently the life of this organization there has never been a time Centers of Burlington, affordable homes. when our work has been more needed. United Way of Northwest Vermont and others to BOARD OF DIRECTORS We take heart in knowing you stand with us, ready to serve people experiencing Left to right top to bottom: support, advocate, collaborate or advise us to meet our homelessness highlights Carina Driscoll mission: making sure people in our region have a safe, our biggest mission leap John Olson, Secretary decent and affordable home. in many years, and a story Gillian Nanton on pages 10-11 that we are Bob Robbins This past year was not only about change. It was also about proud to tell here. It is also Dawn Francis significant achievement and important milestones, like a story that has gained a Mike Loner helping the 1,000th homeowner buy a CHT shared equity broad audience around Gillian Franks home. Their story is on page 6. It’s a remarkable number the country for our impact Kathy T. Luce and proof that the program we’ve developed continues to locally on a shockingly Robin Barnett, Vice President meet people’s needs in both up and down markets. common national problem. Rosalyn Graham Sarah Muyskens, President Our new co-op on Bright Street in the Old North End When we look forward, opened its doors to 40 households. There are more stories we’re focusing on ways that we can further support people We know how much this work in the past and the work of Not pictured: in this new housing than would fit within the pages of this in need and strengthen our communities. Soon you will the future are completely dependent on your continued Ian Boyd annual report, but one that we wanted to share was of hear more about our plans to create a community center at engagement as a volunteer, donor, partner, advocate and Sandy Dooley Bree LeMay and her son Niah. They’re on page 4, and Niah the St. Joseph’s School in Burlington. friend, and we thank you for standing with us, and we look Beth Savage graces our cover forward to achieving even more together. Paul Sisson, Treasurer None of this work would unfold without the courageous Nancy Chace moved into Sarah Cole House after spending and diligent leadership of the board. Their signature project months homeless, and now in her own words aspires to be this year yielded a Strategic Plan that tasks CHT to rise an “ambassador for the City as a face for the homeless.” to our new challenges, like doubling-down on working Sarah Muyskens Brenda Torpy Her courage and commitment are inspiring. We need more to end chronic homelessness – a central goal that drives Board President Chief Executive Officer like her. You’ll also meet Charles Grammer, a veteran, multiple strategies in the Plan. On page 16 you can meet and read his story of finding stability after almost falling one member, Carina Driscoll who speaks of her passion into homelessness. for CHT’s mission and her motivation to make a difference ⊳ FRONT COVER Six year old Niah in his new home at the Bright Street Housing Co-op in Burlington. through her service to CHT. CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | 1 Nancy Chace IT’S HARD TO BE HOMELESS Nancy Chace raised two daughters in “It’s hard to be homeless.” which allows for coordination New Hampshire where she owned her between health providers and home. When her children had grown and Routine carried her through, and finally a connects people to services her father grew older, she sold her home room opened up at the Sarah Cole House, like rides to appointments. The to move to Colorado to live with him. an old Victorian owned and managed program, initiated by Vermont She didn’t expect that to be the first step by the Champlain Housing Trust in nonprofit Cathedral Square, has towards homelessness. Burlington’s South End. A housing voucher seen such success in helping “ This is the first time in a helps cover the rent. people stay at home, and “The person walking next to you, they could reducing health costs and health while I’ve felt at home.” be homeless,” Nancy reflects. “Many people “This is the first time in a while I’ve felt at care utilization, that it is being don’t know that we’re only a step away.” home,” Nancy says. “I’m more set here, and copied around the country. it has all the benefits of a home.” A surgery in Colorado complicated matters She’s looking forward to for her and as is the case for many, her Sarah Cole House is home to thirteen working with the foster compromised health forced unplanned formerly homeless women who each have grandparent program at choices. One was to move back east to spend their own room but share common space, Edmunds Elementary School time with her daughters – and now three a kitchen and large front porch. Nancy is down the street, and has grandchildren – landing in Burlington. “My particularly fond of the garden space just applied to be a crossing guard grandkids bring me so much joy,” she says. out her back door, and with a little digging for the schools. “I love watching But things got worse for Nancy. Living with she unearthed the remnants of an old those kids walk to school every her family posed challenges, and her health walkway and some marbles – the latter day.” She’s also dreaming of made it difficult to work enough to pay the which she uses to imagine what it might becoming “ambassador for the high rents in Burlington. It wasn’t long before have been like in the neighborhood with City, as a face for the homeless.” she ended up at a shelter run by COTS. kids all about 100 years ago. “Mostly,” she adds, “I’m grateful That was her home for eight long months. Having the home has also allowed her to to have a home.” • “Those were long days. It didn’t matter if explore work and volunteer opportunities it were raining, you had to be up and out – she did some part time work at the by 6:45 in the morning. I got support from Burlington Free Press before an accidental the Day Station, but…” she recalls, her fall intervened. Recently, she’s enrolled voice trailing off. in SASH (Support and Services at Home), 2 | CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2016 CHAMPLAIN HOUSING TRUST ANNUAL REPORT 2016 | 3 Bree LeMay ONE STEP AT A TIME “ CHT is such a source of Bree LeMay is no stranger to the Champlain of owning a house. Unfortunately, despite The co-op members plan to begin meeting comfort. I know with their help Housing Trust. Having lived in a CHT working full time as she raises her son, Bree in January to divvy up their responsibilities apartment for the past seven years, she and finds herself still having a hard time affording and discussing goals and priorities. Bree that it is possible to achieve her 6-year-old son, Niah, are embarking the rental housing costs in the area. is hoping to be part of the gardening on a new adventure as members of CHT’s team, and says that although she’s not my goal of owning my own newest housing cooperative on Bright She hopes one day she’ll be ready. In the too knowledgeable about gardening yet, Street in Burlington’s Old North End. meantime, she considers herself lucky. Her she’s excited to learn. With the assistance place eventually. They give me new apartment feels “like owning my own of Vermont Community Garden Network, While their move isn’t a drastic change place,” and is close to everything. With an the co-op members plan to coordinate help and hope.” in location (their apartment is just a short open floor plan, she’s working on filling up workshops beginning in the springtime to walk away), it’s a step in a new direction the space with mid-century décor. Niah’s encourage residents to make the most of that comes with more responsibility. school is within walking distance, and as a the garden beds on the property. Members of housing co-ops are their own self-proclaimed “foodie,” Bree loves that they landlords – they work together to keep have a variety of local, hip restaurants nearby. Their place is slowly becoming their property and community running their own – a place where Niah well. For Bree, it’s a chance for her to learn “The Old North End has so much potential. can be free to sort through his about what kind of responsibilities come It’s already changed so much, and it’s slowly collection of Pokémon cards as with owning a house – a dream she hopes, getting rid of the stigma that it used to have. he pleases and a space to display in time, will become a reality. Developments like this one are huge for that.” their unique and hilariously- themed Christmas cards that “I see the co-op as a stepping stone, While it’s only been a mere two months everyone in their family looks a middle ground between renting and since they moved into their new place, forward to.

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