A guide for local decision-makers and community members.

The site's ever-growing “Housing Resource Toolbox” provides resources and best practices to municipal decision-makers and community members to help with planning and developing local housing policy. This toolbox contains:

First steps to understanding local housing advocacy;

Information to help communities assess their housing needs;

Tips for starting and enhancing housing committees;

Local and national housing policy recommendations; and

Links to other state housing resources, such as Zoning For Great Neighborhoods.

The Housing Resource Toolbox is intended to stimulate community conversations, support local leadership, and enable policy change, as needed, to increase inclusive, fair, and affordable housing.

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How to use this toolbox:

Use the menu on the left to navigate to the sections most relevant to you.

“First Steps”: an introduction to a few key municipal tools for addressing housing needs, including how to perform a Housing Needs Assessment for your community or region, tips for updating your municipal plan to support more inclusive affordable housing, and how to support your local housing committees.
"Housing Committees”: details about the role of housing committees in Vermont, including examples of activities, and resources for starting a housing committee in your community.
"Local Housing Needs Assessments”: examples of housing needs assessments completed at the town, county, regional, and statewide level.
"Glossary of Housing Terms": an ever-growing list of affordable housing terms and concepts, useful for both seasoned and brand-new housing advocates.
“Regulatory Tools”: detailed information about regulatory and non-regulatory tools to promote more affordable, inclusive housing, including examples of successful case studies in communities across the country.
"Other housing resources": a list of resources from state partners, federal agencies, and national housing-focused organizations.
"Affordable price & rent level": a tool to understand affordable home purchase prices and monthly rent amounts for Vermonters based on HUD monthly income guidelines.

The Housing Resource Toolbox was created through a partnership of The Fair Housing Project of CVOEO’s Thriving Communities initiative, the Vermont Department of Housing & Community Development, and Vermont Housing Finance Agency.

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