Do you work in the Restaurant and Hospitality sector? The White River Valley Consortium invites you to join a 90-minute focus group to discuss your thoughts on a variety of potential solutions for addressing the White River Valley’s housing shortage. Descriptions of these potential solutions will be provided at the beginning of the focus group session, and the conversation will focus on your response to these ideas. Focus group participants will be thanked for their time with a $40 honorarium plus reimbursement for expenses including transportation and childcare.

We are interested in hearing from both those who are currently seeking a new home, or will be in the future (e.g. when a current lease ends, when you’re in a position to buy, etc), and from those who were recently homeseekers (including recent homebuyers).

We are especially interested in supporting increased housing that is affordable, available, and appealing to people who are establishing themselves in the workforce and to beginning entrepreneurs. Because housing is intimately related to career choices, we are organizing these focus groups by employment sector, so that you will be in conversation with others in a similar career field.

Restaurant and Hospitality Focus Group:

Time and date:Tuesday, January 17, 5:30-7pm

Location: Babe’s Bar, 221 Main Street, Bethel VT

Register here (registration required)

This focus group will also be co-hosted by Owen Daniel-McCarter of Babes Bar.

Focus groups are only one of several formats in which we are collecting community input. We also have members of the White River Valley consortium available to conduct one-on-one interviews with anyone who prefers to participate that way. Interviews last no more than an hour and are virtual, and interviewees can also receive a small stipend for their time. Please email Sarah Danly if you are interested in scheduling an interview to share your housing experiences or ideas.