TO THE EDITOR: THE NORTHFIELD NEWS AS A COMMUNITY-BASED nonprofit affordable housing provider, support from the towns we serve as well as from individuals and area businesses is an important contribution to assist in meeting the growing needs for affordable housing in central Vermont. CVCLT serves Washington and northern Orange County with all of its services, while the NeighborWorks® Homeownership Center also serves all of Lamoille and Orange County residents. The community board of trustees leads our membership organization in which every CVCLT beneficiary and donor is a voting member.

CVCLT provides homes to central Vermont families and individuals of primarily low and moderate incomes through apartment rentals, mobile home parks and homeownership. Additionally, we administer the Green Mountain Loan Fund which is designed to help central Vermonters with energy efficiency, safety, and accessibility upgrades to their homes. The HomeOwnership Center runs monthly workshops for first-time homebuyers on the ins-and-outs of homeownership. The Center also manages the state-funded Homeland program which assists in placing families in homes with the benefit of grants. Due to the challenging economic times it has also become a valued resource in foreclosure prevention counseling.

We are asking for your support by voting to approve our request at your town meeting. Thank you for supporting much needed affordable housing in central Vermont.

EILEEN PELTIER Executive Director Central Vermont Community Land Trust