About Downstreet

Mission

Downstreet Housing and Community Development (Downstreet) is a mission-driven, non-profit organization dedicated to equitable access to opportunities for the people of Central Vermont. For the past 37 years, we’ve used the power of permanently affordable housing as a platform to connect people to the resources they need to thrive and to strengthen the health and future of our local communities.

Downstreet strengthens the communities of Central Vermont by creating permanently affordable homes, promoting equity and inclusion, and connecting people to the resources and services they need to thrive. 

 

What We Do

We Create Permanently Affordable Homes

Downstreet creates permanently affordable homes through new construction, adaptive reuse, and the historic preservation of existing structures. We also preserve affordable housing through extensive rehabs that improve the livability and energy-efficiency of older buildings. We currently own and operate 452 apartments and 85 manufactured housing lots and have multiple projects in various stages of development to create new homes in Central Vermont’s Washington and Orange counties.

 

We Make Homeownership Possible

Serving Washington, Orange, and Lamoille counties, our Homeownership Center stewards and grows a shared equity homeownership portfolio of 165 permanently affordable homes. Over 200 households each year access our services and resources including homeownership education and support. We offer foreclosure counseling, grants, and loans for homeownership deposits, home repairs for low- and moderate-income homeowners, and rental repairs for landlords, along with other affordable housing initiatives.

 

We Support People and Promote Vibrant Communities

When paired with targeted support services, affordable housing can provide increased access to opportunity for residents and foster healthier and more equitable communities. In 25 percent of our multifamily rental homes, we partner with community service providers to offer permanent supportive housing, combining rental assistance and housing subsidies to help people with disabilities who are exiting homelessness maintain stable housing. We administer the Support & Services at Home (SASH) model for Central Vermont, a Medicare-funded program that helps over 600 older adults and people with disabilities age in place each year.

History

Downstreet, originally founded as the Central Vermont Community Land Trust (CVCLT) in 1987, emerged during a time of significant housing challenges in Vermont. The 1980s saw rising real estate values and reductions in federal housing support, prompting grassroots and statewide efforts to address affordability and prevent displacement. The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) was created to support these initiatives, and CVCLT was established with a focus on community land trusts. This model was designed to ensure permanent affordability and provide secure housing options for low- and moderate-income residents in Central Vermont.

Over the years, Downstreet expanded its services beyond land trusts to include a variety of housing and community development programs. These efforts have included foreclosure counseling, grants, and loans for homeownership deposits, and home repairs for low- and moderate-income homeowners. The organization has also coordinated initiatives to improve rental housing conditions and support affordable housing livability. By continually adapting to the evolving needs of the community, Downstreet has maintained its commitment to providing secure, affordable housing and fostering community development in Central Vermont.

Membership

As a membership organization, we encourage anyone who is inspired by our mission to join us. Those who use our programs and services are part of our membership as well as our donors, staff, volunteers, and Board Members. Members are invited to participate in our annual meetings, where they can weigh in on the state of the organization and vote on new and returning Board members and bylaws changes, when necessary.

For more information about Downstreet, see our list of frequently asked questions.