MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – A new resource aims to keep Vermont on track in addressing its housing shortage.
The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development this week released its housing targets report to help communities keep the focus on achieving their goals.
Governor Phil Scott says the state is only building about a quarter of what it needs to meet targets for 2030 and 2050. Officials say the state needs to add about 7,200 homes just to catch up to where we’re supposed to be and then 40,000 more in the next five years.
The governor hopes to make it easier to build new homes or revitalize existing homes, expand infrastructure in smaller communities, and work on limiting Act 250 regulations. “We don’t want houses to litter our mountainsides or development that replaces our farmland. What we’re asking for is to make it easier and faster to develop in places where it makes sense, where there’s existing infrastructure,” Scott said.
The governor’s omnibus housing bill is set to be released this week. It’s expected to encompass all the ways he proposes to attack the crisis.