Vermont Seniors Vie for Affordable Housing

Seniors in Vergennes, Vt. scrambled to get in line for environmentally-friendly, affordable rental homes that have just received construction funding. Senator Bernie Sanders recently secured $380,000 in funding for 25 apartments that will utilize advances in green-building techniques and be energy-efficient in design; the shortage of senior housing is evident through the more than 40 households that have already signed up in the hopes of getting one of these apartments.

The senator’s newsroom reports that each building will include Energy Star lighting and appliances, solar panels and wood pellet boilers, which will reduce the impact of these homes on the environment. This will also result in lower energy costs.

“This is exactly the kind of housing we should be building – not only does it meet the significant need for quality and affordable senior housing, but it does it in a very energy efficient manner,” says Sanders. “This project is much more than housing.  It brings the elderly of the entire surrounding community together in their own senior center and enables them to continue to participate actively in the life of the community.”

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In addition to the funding secured by the senator, there are at least eight other sources that are supplementing construction costs, including a tax credit equity investment of more than $2.7 million and contributions from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency.

Written by Alyssa Gerace

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