The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition is excited to start the next iteration of our “Voices of Home” project at Cambrian Rise!
Voices is a dynamic project, conceived by former VAHC Americorps VISTA member Corrine Yonce, that aims to build community and raise awareness of the importance of affordable housing through storytelling and art. Past Voices projects have engaged low-income residents of affordable housing and public housing communities through audio interviews, portraiture, and community art projects. Check them out at our Voices website: http://www.vtaffordablehousing.org/voices/! (More coming soon!)
Burlington’s Cambrian Rise, a new neighborhood on the shores of Lake Champlain, will be the site of hundreds of new homes, including two affordable apartment buildings, Laurentide and Juniper House, respectively owned and managed by our nonprofit housing providers, Champlain Housing Trust and Cathedral Square.
Laurentide residents worked on their story tiles in this (pre-Covid) workshop.
Last year, we worked with residents at Laurentide, an affordable apartment complex housing low-income individuals and families, to create a collaborative art piece for their lobby. Later this month, senior residents will begin moving into affordable apartments at Juniper House, right next to Laurentide. We’re working with our friends at Laurentide to start a “Pen Pal project” between the two buildings. Laurentide residents will write welcome letters to their new neighbors at Juniper House, building a bridge between the two communities during this time of social distancing.
Thanks to our funders!
We’re so thankful to the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund and AARP Community Challenge for their support of this project. Both foundations have amazing grant-making programs for grassroots community projects, and Voices of Home is grateful for their support!
The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Applications are accepted for projects to improve public spaces, housing, transportation, civic engagement, coronavirus recovery, diversity and inclusion, and more. Applications for the 2021 community challenge are open until April 14.
The deadline for the next round of NEGEF’s Grow Grant—up to $4000 in funding to support groups to deepen their work by further developing a community vision, lowering barriers to participation, identifying new stakeholders and working to bring more voices and lived experiences into core decision-making processes—is Tuesday, March 16. VAHC strongly encourages grassroots groups to apply for funding!
Stay tuned for more updates on Voices of Home!