Indendence Day - Build Schedule - We will be building from 8:30 to 12:30 on July 4th. Come join us if you can. We hope you have a great holiday weekend!

Citizens Bank presented gift to Habitat! Led by West Pawlet Branch Manger, Harry Haldt, a team of Citizens Bank employees helped with the build on Saturday, June 13th. At the end of the day, Harry surprised us all by presenting us with a check for $2,5oo that will be used to purchase building supplies for the Siegrist home. We are most grateful for their help on site and generous financial support!

Habitat applies for permits to build in Manchester

Read article - printed in June 5, Manchester Journal. We hope people will come to the meeting at the Manchester town offices on Wednesday, June 17 to show support for the project.

Public Service Announcement - In Small Towns - This is a short video that tells the Habitat story. This video takes two minutes to download. It is well worth the time.

Between a Rock and a Hard Place - updated - March 2009

This is well worth reading - very compelling - makes the case for what Habitat does all the more compelling! Read the article.

Take Action: Speak Up on Housing for Families - With the worst ecnomic crisis in generations upon us, more and more families will face tough times finding a place to live. In the current climate, housing programs, including those that support Habitat for Humanity, are particularly important to the economic security of families and communities.

Governor Douglas recommended that the budget for the Housing and Conservation Board be cut from thirteen million to 4.5 million with no money going to conservation and 4.5 million for housing, down from 13 milion last year. Our affiliate, other Vermont Habitat affiliates and other organizations that help with affordable housing all have benefitted from VHCB grants. It is important to let our senators and representatives hear from us. Click here to get contact information for your representatives.

The same action is needed at the Federal level. Act today to ensure more, not fewer families have a chance at affordable housing. Please write President Obama and ask him to keep funding vital housing programs for low-income families. How many Habitat homes would 1 trillion dollars provide in the United States? We recently learned that US$1 trillion could buy 16.6 million Habitat for Humanity houses, enough for 43 million Americans.

Recipes for Financial Fitness - Want to get a better control on your finances? Check out Habitat’s interactive financial toolkit that provides ongoing financial education and resources to Habitat homeowners and the general public. The toolkit includes several helpful topics, such as controlling finances, credit basics, finding a better-paying job and getting an education.

Families in Financial Difficulty - how to manage
Habitat has pulled together information for Habitat families that are having difficulty managing their finances. These papers are helpful to any family - not just Habitat families. Click the link to find out more. And, there is another document specific to avoiding foreclosure.

Watch Habitat for Humanity videos on YouTube
Habitat for Humanity International is now on YouTube! You can watch videos, post comments, subscribe to Habitat International's channel and become a “friend” of HFHI on YouTube. Visit today at www.youtube.com/habitatforhumanity. Note: With DSL, it takes about 15 seconds to load the link. Please be patient. It is worth the wait.

We have made it possible for 11.6 homes to be built in other countries. - We received a summary of our tithe from Habitat International. In completing our 9th home, it is very gratifying to know our tithe has built 11.6 homes internataionally! Since our affiliate was founded, we have contributed $34,565. To read more go to the FAQ section and click on "What is the Tithe Program."

Donate a car to Cars for Homes™ Your vehicle donation can help a family build a home, and the hope of a better life! Car, truck, boat and RV donations help Habitat for Humanity build houses in partnership with families in need of decent, affordable shelter. Donate a car, truck, boat, RV or other vehicle to Cars for Homes™, Habitat for Humanity’s official car donation program, by calling 1-877-277-4344 (toll free) or online at www.carsforhomes.org. In 2008, three cars have been donated to Habitat with the proceeds helping us to build homes in Bennington County.

Affordable Housing falls short of demand (article taken from the Vermont Community Foundation Website) - Scenic views and open spaces are easy to find in Vermont. But if you are part of the state’s moderate- to-low-income population, finding an affordable home close to your work can prove challenging. The affordable housing issue encompasses multiple Vermont interests including: preserving natural resources and green spaces, pursuing profitable development projects, attracting and retaining the workers who power the state’s economy, managing the length of commutes, and meeting baseline housing needs.