On Monday, Building Bright Futures presented its annual State of Vermont's Children Report to the legislature. The report used data from 2022 to outline four policy goals for Vermont, all of which focus on ways to improve early childhood.
Owning a home has many financial benefits and is crucial for building wealth to pass down to future generations. But discriminatory practices have long kept BIPOC people from buying. Today's historically tight housing market — where supply is low, cash is king and interest rates are climbing — is creating even more barriers.
A St. Albans domestic violence survivor shelter celebrates 20 years of serving Franklin County. The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Voices Against Violence program opened the doors to Laurie’s House in 2002. It serves as a place domestic violence victims can find somewhere safe to stay.
A dramatic increase in the cost of fossil fuels has sent more Vermonters scrambling this autumn to weatherize their homes, line up financial assistance and find cheaper heating options. Energy advocates hope the search will lead householders to cleaner fuels that in the long run are easier on the pocketbook — and the climate.
As the holidays approach, some people don't know how they're going to put food on the table for their family's celebration. That is why local organizations are stepping up to help anyone who asks for aid.
A recent heating bill or fuel-tank fill-up tells you all you need to know: the price of staying warm is painfully high heading into winter.
How Voices Against Violence is striving to be more accessible across Franklin County
In recent weeks, Vermonters have experienced many days of much warmer than normal temperatures, which stressed our utility systems as we cooled our homes. And soon we’ll be thinking about the upcoming winter and the need to heat our homes for several months. One of the most effective methods of reducing the need to excessively heat or cool our homes and manage the associated costs is through weatherization.
Vermont food banks say they are seeing an increase in the number of people in need of services, driven in part by inflation and the high cost of living. This comes on the heels of the pandemic, when Vermont experienced record-high levels of food insecurity.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Fair Housing Project and the Vermont Tenants Hotline receive a lot of questions related to assistance animals from renters and also from housing and service providers around the state. I’m writing to share some information about fair housing rights for people with disabilities, provide resources for anyone experiencing discrimination in their housing, and advocate for a shift in how transitional housing providers accommodate both assistance animals and pets.