General FAQs

We serve families and individuals, men, women, and children of all ages, persons with disabilities and special needs, and the elderly. The vast majority of our tenants and homeowners are local families who have lived in the area for a long time. Surveys of our residents reveal both renter and homeowner households have lived in the region for an average of more than 20 years. Indeed, this area is their home. Our residents are largely working people, employed by area businesses. Many are or have been employees of the Town of Brattleboro, Price Chopper, the Brattleboro Retreat, the Brattleboro Food Co-op, Omega Optical, the State of Vermont, GS Precision, Sam’s Outdoor Outfitters, Pepsi, Eden Park, and C&S Wholesale Grocers, to name a few.

14 Birge Street	90 Clark Street	30-34 Main Street
68 Birge Street	11 Cross Street	23 Neumann Lane (Putney)
9 Canal Street	500 Coolidge Hwy   (Guilford)	29 Neumann Lane (Putney)
13 Canal Street	24 East Main Street (Wilmington)	35 Neumann Lane (Putney)
34 Canal Street (SRO)	135 Elliot Street	41 Oak Street
50 Canal Street	218 Elliot Street	27 Old Depot Rd (Putney)
58 Canal Street	59 Frost Street	42 South Main Street
63 Canal Street	99 Green Street	11 Spring Street
64 Canal Street	109 Green Street	15 Spring Street
182 Canal Street	71 Guilford Center Rd   (Guilford)	16-38 Valgar Street
188 Canal Street	91 Guilford Center Rd   (Guilford)	66 Washington Street
192 Canal Street	19 Homestead Place	925 Western Ave.
44 Clark Street	21 Horton Place (SRO)	929 Western Ave.
48 Clark Street	25 Homestead Place	935 Western Ave.
52 Clark Street	52 Kimball Hill (Putney)	804 Western Ave   (SRO)

See the Property Management FAQs for more information about our apartments and how to apply.

No. The vast majority of properties we purchase and renovate are occupied buildings. When we purchase a multifamily property with plans for renovations, we temporarily relocate all of the households residing in the building. After the rehabilitation is completed, the same residents are given priority and the first option to re-rent their original apartment. Therefore, WWHT’s renovation of buildings causes no change in the building’s population or in the neighborhood’s population. The only change is in the condition of the property—which is vastly improved. Additionally, many of our residents have lived in the area long before they obtain housing through the Trust. Indeed, they are an integral part of our community, and among a sizable demographic group in need of housing opportunities that do not exist within the prevailing market.

While most of WWHT’s housing development work is rehabilitation of existing structures occupied by existing local residents, the impact of new home construction on local school enrollments is a concern shared by many communities. After a dramatic increase in the number of children in Vermont’s schools during the 1990s, it is no surprise this concern continues to press on the minds of some local planners, decision makers, and community residents when new home building is proposed. These concerns prompted the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) to study the relationship between home building and school enrollment levels. VHFA found that:

• Contrary to these concerns, new housing is highly unlikely to quickly trigger a jump in school enrollment for most Vermont communities.
• The number of school-aged children in a community is more dependent on the demographics of households already living there than on whether new homes have been built recently. Decreasing numbers of Vermonters in their child-bearing years and increasing numbers of single-person households have had a substantial influence on the state’s school enrollments.
• Some communities concerned about declining school enrollments and a declining population of young adults may want to try to attract families who have children or may have them in the future. In these cases, affordability is an important factor. Current and future parents of school-aged children are fairly young, on average, and have not yet reached their full earning potential. Competing demands on the limited paychecks of many of these families encourage them to seek housing that is priced affordably.

You may be surprised to learn that as much as 60% of the funds for a WWHT project comes from investors (such as local banks) rather than from state or federal governments. These investors receive a tax credit in exchange for the funding they provide. Since 1987, WWHT has raised nearly $70 million in loans and grants for the purchase, rehabilitation, and construction of housing from a variety of private and public funding sources. For example, WWHT has received tax credits, bank loans and subsidies, and has competed for and received funding from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Vermont Community Development Program, Vermont statewide HOME program, and Lead Hazard Reduction Program.

The projects targeted by WWHT often entail the purchase of severely dilapidated properties, considered “untouchable” by most private developers. These projects tend to be expensive because the condition of the building is typically so deteriorated. WWHT is required to meet stringent development guidelines for housing quality and safety because it receives public funds for its rehabilitation work. Development guidelines include lead paint and asbestos abatement requirements, historic preservation standards, Federal energy efficiency standards, Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, anti-displacement regulations, and other state and federal mandates. These mandates are good public policy, but they do add cost. Third, high-quality and durable rehabilitation, including the installation of energy-efficient systems, is required to ensure affordability for many generations to come. Public funding is available for the initial rehabilitation, while rents must finance ongoing maintenance and repairs. While initial construction costs are increased, higher-quality rehabilitation upfront often results in the least overall costs when the building is owned for a long period of time and is maintained in good condition. A significant factor in the overall cost of developing affordable housing has been the escalation of construction costs in recent years. Because the cost of construction is such a large portion of the total housing development budget for WWHT projects, when construction costs go up so do project budgets. While some have suggested that it would be more cost effective to tear a property down and build (rather than rehabilitate), this is typically not the case. The per-square-foot cost of new construction has averaged about the same as renovation costs, and when the cost of demolishing and removing the building is factored in, rehabilitation becomes even more cost effective.  Furthermore, historic properties often have materials that are more durable than what can affordably be included in a new construction project.

WWHT always pays taxes on the land and buildings it owns. In 2017, WWHT paid a total of $583,096.92 to towns in Windham and Windsor counties. And, recent studies show that the rehabilitation of substandard properties by the Trust usually increases municipal property tax revenues. Despite the fact that the Trust’s properties are assessed (using an assessment formula mandated under state law) at a slightly lower rate because of rent and resale restrictions, the value of its properties often increases dramatically after rehabilitation work is completed, augmenting the taxes paid on those properties. These increases, as well as tax increases on improved neighboring properties, can and most often do lead to growth in local tax rolls.

Beyond the clear benefits to its low- and moderate-income residents into the properties, WWHT’s housing development activities have also had a far-reaching impact on the overall well-being of the region. WWHT’s housing work has resulted in the infusion of nearly $70 million dollars in state and federal funding into the regional economy, contributing to overall community stability and economic health. For example, between 2015 and 2018, $7 million was invested in the small town of Putney, VT by WWHT, Housing Vermont, and other non-profit development organizations. In 2017, WWHT served over 450 people with housing education and counseling. 90 people purchased homes after getting help from us and 23 homeowners got help through our home repair program. Economic Development data shows that for every 10 apartments developed, 12 construction related jobs are created, 3 of those jobs being sustained permanently. Additionally, all of our development projects have an energy efficiency component, which helps preserve the environment and lighten our step on the planet. The availability of affordable housing ensures that one of life’s necessities—a place to call home—stays within the reach of all the citizens of our community.

Yes. A 2018 housing needs assessment showed an increased concentration of renter households and a decrease in the availability of relatively affordable ownership options, meaning that the creation of affordable apartments, especially in downtown areas, is even more necessary today. Leaders of business and industry also understand the critical importance affordable housing plays in attracting and retaining employees. Ninety percent of 108 Vermont employers surveyed by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency in 2015 said the lack of available affordable housing is a problem for their employees, and 81% said it is a problem for their companies. By providing affordable housing to local workers, WWHT helps maintain a diverse pool of employees and supports a healthy economy.