by Guy Page
Downstreet Housing & Community Development and the Central Vermont Refugee Action Network (CVRAN) on Wednesday announced the opening of Randall Apartments, a newly renovated building that now provides four permanently affordable homes for New American families.
The project, located in downtown Montpelier, is seen by organizers as a milestone in expanding safe and stable housing opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers in Central Vermont.
Randall Apartments is a collaboration between Downstreet and CVRAN, with financial and technical support from the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Innovation Funds, the Montpelier Housing Trust Fund, the Vermont Housing Improvement Program, 3E Thermal, and the Vermont Community Loan Fund.
Historically, the VHCB acquires about a third of its total budget from the property transfer tax. 2026 requested state funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board includes $36,964,250 in Property Transfer Tax (PTT) allocation, and $2,800,000 in Capital Bill Clean Water appropriations for total State funding of $39,764,250, according to a VHCB funding request provided to the Legislature.
“By pairing permanent affordability with CVRAN’s deep community support, we’re not just opening doors — we’re creating lasting stability and belonging for new Vermonters,” said Angie Harbin, executive director of Downstreet.
The building, which once housed apartments in poor condition, underwent major life-safety upgrades and design improvements. The result, officials said, is a set of modern, energy-efficient homes that will serve as a foundation for families starting new lives in Montpelier.
Alie Zenie, executive director of CVRAN, said the project reflects a broader effort to strengthen inclusivity in the region. “We are incredibly grateful to partner with Downstreet on projects like this one to increase access to affordable housing for all,” she said. “We are working together to ensure that Washington County is a place where refugees, asylum seekers, and all Vermonters feel a sense of safety and belonging as they set down roots in our community.”
Organizers say the project reaffirms the community’s commitment to ensuring that all Vermonters — regardless of background or circumstance — can find a place to call home.