The 2025 Housing Solutions Breakfast drew about 160 people to consider the current outlook on Upper Valley housing. Attendees heard from and networked with employers, developers, advocacy groups, legislators, municipal officials, and others who shared their perspectives and discussed ongoing and proposed measures to address the issue.
The evemt was co-hosted by Vital Communities and Twin Pines Housing and sponsored by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, New Hampshire Housing, and Mascoma Bank.
The program began with an overview of the housing market presented by Sam Shampine, a policy analyst for the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston; followed by recaps of state legislation in Vermont and New Hampshire by Chad Simmons, Housing Policy and Engagement Specialist for the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, and Nick Taylor, Executive Director of Housing Action NH. See their slides below!
Those presentations were followed by a panel on the economics of creating housing, moderated by Sarah Wrightsman, Community Engagement and Education manager for New Hampshire Housing.
The panelists –Jack Kauders, Executive Director, Upper Valley Habitat for Humanity; Jim Wogan, Director of Lending, Evernorth; Sarah Danly, Program Manager, Vital Communities; and Ryan Jean, Owner, Cathedral Ledge Contracting — highlighted challenges we see, especially with cost, around creating housing. These include uncertain federal funding, overall building costs (especially labor), and policy and regulatory hurdles at the town and state levels. Kauders noted that Habitat builds are costing around $400k, even with a lot of volunteer labor and donated land.
On the flip side, solutions and opportunities were also explored. Jean noted that, for a current build of affordable homes in the Conway, NH, area, local suppliers and subscontractors are giving him a discount to help him comtrol costs. Other solutions that were shared included the use of such technology and building advancements as modular builds, funding mechanisms like pre-development cost support, and funding complementary to those provided by the Vermont Housing Improvement Program.
The final message from panelists invited attendees to learn about local processes and efforts, show up, speak up, and work together.