A path towards solving Vermont’s housing crisis.
by J.T. Dodge
In Island Pond, where I grew up, every dollar mattered. My mother, tirelessly working in a local factory, epitomized hard work for meager pay. This, alongside our family’s disciplined approach to budgeting, instilled in me a respect for living within our means. Today, my wife and I also live by values of careful financial prudence, as this is the road to resiliency when challenges strike. Shouldn’t the state be just as careful and just as cautious?
Today, our state stands at a crossroads, facing a dire need for more homes to improve living conditions and enhance affordability for all. I support a bold step forward: Cutting through the cumbersome red tape of Act 250 to facilitate the construction of new homes. Over the years, this well-intentioned law has become entangled in complexity and cost, hindering our collective ability to meet the housing needs of our community. The Environmental Mediation Center’s comprehensive report on Act 250 underscores these challenges and champions the imperative for reform.
Let’s dare to dream of a future where Caledonia District thrives, buoyed by sufficient housing for all who desire to put down roots here—from the eager first-time homebuyer to the apartment dweller yearning for a house. By freeing up apartments, we release the pressure from the pot, invigorating our entire state, making strides toward greater affordability and taking decisive action against homelessness.
The most important action we can take, it’s to become informed on the issues and vote. Talk to your neighbors that don’t vote and encourage them to become informed. You won’t regret it.
I’ll be running for office, perhaps you will consider doing the same.
J.T. Dodge (R) is a former 2022 State Senate candidate for Caledonia County.