Chloe Learey is the executive director of Winston Prouty Center for Child and Family Development in Brattleboro and serves as the steering committee chair of the Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance, as the vice chair of the Brattleboro Memorial Hospital board of directors, and as a member of the board of directors of the Vermont Community Loan Fund.
BRATTLEBORO-Vermont's housing shortage has become one of the most pressing issues affecting nearly every corner of the state, and Windham County is no exception. The lack of homes that are affordable to people earning moderate wages is having a ripple effect across our economy, education system, and civic life.
The numbers paint a stark picture. According to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, the state will need 30,000 to 40,000 new homes by 2030 to meet projected demand. More than half of renters in Windham County are considered cost-burdened, spending over 30% of their income on rent. Meanwhile, construction of new housing - particularly for the local workforce - continues to lag far behind what's needed.
This is not simply a housing issue. It's a workforce issue. It's an education issue. And it's a community issue.
Employers across the region report that open positions go unfilled not because candidates aren't interested in the jobs, but because they cannot find housing within a reasonable distance.
Schools are seeing enrollment declines that threaten both their funding and long-term sustainability. Families who would otherwise stay and invest in the community are being pushed out - or never moving in at all.
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In the face of this challenge, one local project offers a thoughtful and community-centered response: the Village at Winston Prouty in Brattleboro.
Located on the former Austine School campus, the 180-acre site is being redeveloped into a mixed-use neighborhood that balances housing, child care, and preserved open space.
Phase 1 of the project - now moving forward - will create 28 housing units designed specifically to meet the needs of the local workforce. These are not luxury homes or vacation properties. They are modest, energy-efficient residences for people who live and work in Windham County.
The long-term vision includes up to 300 units of mixed-income housing. This scale is significant - not just for Brattleboro, but for the entire region. Few other sites in southern Vermont offer this combination of location, infrastructure potential, and connection to existing community services.
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The Winston Prouty Center, which operates early-childhood and family programs on site, is uniquely positioned to build a neighborhood that integrates housing with a vibrant array of services.
What sets this project apart is its grounding in local need. The people this housing is meant to serve are already part of the community: child care workers, teaching assistants, retail clerks, nursing assistance staff, and other essential workers. Many are currently commuting long distances, living in inadequate conditions, or unable to remain in the area due to lack of housing options.
While the challenges of permitting, infrastructure investment, and financing are real, the cost of inaction is growing. As Vermont policymakers continue to debate zoning reform and housing investment at the state level, projects like the Village at Winston Prouty demonstrate how solutions can begin at the local level - but only if supported by broader systems.
Housing development can be contentious, but it doesn't have to be divisive. When done thoughtfully, with community input and a clear sense of purpose, projects like this one can help preserve the vitality of the region.
Without housing that working people can afford, we risk losing the very fabric of our towns: the people who teach our kids, care for our elders, and keep our main streets running.
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The 28 homes planned in Phase 1 of the Village at Winston Prouty are not enough to meet the entire demand for housing, but they represent an essential start - a model for how communities can respond to local needs with place-based, mission-driven development.
Sustained investment, coordinated leadership, and community support are needed to resolve Vermont's housing crisis - one project and one policy change alone is not enough. It will also take a willingness to treat housing not just as a private concern, but as a shared public responsibility.
We often say we want strong schools, thriving downtowns, and resilient communities. Those goals are possible only if the people who make them function - our workforce - can afford to live here.
As we look ahead, the conversation must shift from whether we can afford to invest in housing to whether we can afford not to.
This Voices Viewpoint was submitted to The Commons.
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