Local Habitat for Humanity chapter gets house #10

The Greater Springfield Vermont Area Habitat for Humanity, your local Habitat chapter, has acquired a rehabilitation property to work on and offer for sale to an eligible partner family. Now looking for volunteer workers.

Affordable housing trust announces new staff member

Affordable housing in both Windsor and Windham counties will soon have a fresh face keeping track of it, as the nonprofit Windham and Windsor Housing Trust (WWHT) has appointed Jeanine Rodriguez as its director of asset and property management.

Offering corrections

On Tuesday, Aug. 21 the Eagle Times published an article titled “Vermont law protects squatters.” This article was not written directly by me, but I was quoted by Glynis Hart, who is one your reporters. She had misquoted me on a number of things.

Vermont law protects squatters, elderly victims tell of difficulties

Could homeless drug users take over your house? According to some residents of Springfield, yes, because it happened to them. Elderly property owners were stuck with thousands of dollars in damages and unpaid heating bills after squatters moved into their homes.

Springfield Supported Housing Program founding directors retire

The Springfield Supported Housing Program was founded in 2006 to assist families and individuals in southern Windsor and northern Windham counties who were either homeless, or in danger of losing their housing, find permanent, affordable housing and receive at home case management for six months to two years.

Seniors are still displaced after last Friday’s flooding

The force of flood waters caused bending of the outside steel doors to the electrical room.

Seventy-eight residents of a senior housing complex in Springfield remain displaced one week after flooding forced the evacuation of the Louis Whitcomb Building on Mineral Street. While most are staying with relatives or friends, 12 people are at the emergency shelter in the Edwin Huber Building on Main Street.

Shelter increases assistance after Springfield flooding

The Precision Valley Disaster Recovery Committee is operating a shelter with the support of the Red Cross, the Springfield Housing Authority, and the Springfield Warming Shelter for some of the people affected by the evacuation of all 74 apartments in the Whitcomb building, following flooding in the Mineral Street area on Friday, July 27.

Construction on Woolson Block expected to start in the fall

The Woolson Block building renovation has come with hurdles, including revenue shortfalls and added construction costs, but despite challenges developers say they expect construction to begin this fall and finish in about a year.

Springfield, BF landlords settle violation claims

The Attorney General’s Office says it has settled with six landlords, including three in the Bellows Falls and Springfield, Vermont areas, for violations of consumer protection and lead laws.

VHCB awards $2.9 million for Vermont conservation projects

At a meeting on March 15, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded money for projects in several communities including Springfield.

Deadline nears for participation in Weatherize Upper Valley

The deadline is March 31 for residents in Springfield and 10 other towns to sign up to participate in Weatherize Upper Valley. The Vital Communities program encourages homeowners to invest in energy efficiency projects by offering free or discounted home energy assessments and chances to win cash prizes.

‘COVERing’ repairs for those in need

The nonprofit group COVER Home Repair Inc. provides urgently needed home repairs and improvements for people with low-income, the elderly or disabled. But when you ask the organization’s staff and volunteers, they say their main work is mending communities.

Lead-safe renovation courses offered

Essential Maintenance Practices (EMP) courses on lead-safe renovation will be offered by Lead Safe Homes in collaboration with the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Department of Health.

$600 Roommates in a Communal Farmhouse

We are artist, activist, queer, buddhist millennials. You don't have to be those things to live with us, but now you know what you're getting into.

Springfield takes on urban decay one building at a time

Neighborhood activists, who are trying to clean up one of Springfield's toughest neighborhoods, say they'll only be able to tackle the problem one building at a time.

Developers seek to partner with town for Woolson Block project grant

The Springfield Housing Authority (SHA) and Housing Vermont are hoping to partner with the town of Springfield to apply for a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for the purposes of developing the Woolson Block, which sits currently unoccupied in downtown Springfield.

Tree collapse displaces apartment residents

A tree came down on a residence in Springfield Friday, displacing 10 people from seven apartment units due to damage on the rear of the River Street building that made it uninhabitable, according to the Springfield Fire Department.

What's it like to volunteer for COVER?

Home repair volunteers needed in Springfield, the last 2 days of June.

Woolson Block project secures more funding

A planned project to renovate the Woolson Block in Springfield is gaining momentum after the announcement that project organizers were awarded an additional $850,000 from the Vermont Housing Conservation Board earlier this month.

Priest's 160-sq-ft house has all the comforts of home

Father Peter Williams built himself a house that has all the comforts of home: a full kitchen, a bathroom with a toilet and shower, a dining area, a living area with a drop-down television, a propane furnace and even electric radiant heat under the laminate wood flooring. It's all part of his towable, tiny house.