UVM urged to create employee housing

Source: Burlington FreePress, 6/7/11, by Tim Johnson “Four years ago, the University of Vermont’s president assured interfaith activists that UVM was committed to creating affordable housing for UVM employees.With that commitment still unfulfilled, members of the group — Vermont Interfaith Action — met Monday night to contemplate their next steps. The consensus seemed to favor keeping the pressure on UVM to make good on its pledge in the face of an exceedingly tight, exorbitant rental market. About 80 people turned out at the College Street Congregational Church to hear a report on the area’s housing unaffordability and a brief history of UVM’s recent housing initiatives, which have focused on students. The report noted UVM has continued to delay providing affordable housing despite “a pressing need for … junior faculty and staff.” Expanding affordable housing is one of Vermont Interfaith Action’s major campaigns. In 2007, after calling on UVM to build affordable housing on university property, the group received a letter from UVM President Dan Fogel stating that the university had a “sincere commitment to pursue the construction of affordable housing units for our employees.” Fogel’s 2007 letter included caveats, Richard Cate, vice president for finance, pointed out Monday afternoon. Among them: Any such project could not interfere with academic or other facilities needs, and it would have to be accomplished with “available resources” — resources that were later diminished, after the recession hit…” Full Story: UVM urged to create employee housing Follow-up article by the Burlington FreePress, on how UVM is not making affordable employee housing a priority: Affordable housing outside UVM’s focus

#BTV #Housing