Collaboration and Service Improvement:

• Support implementation of Keys to the Valley strategy recommendations to increase the number of housing units across the Upper Valley, with a special focus on equity. 

Education:

• Continue VC’ Business Leaders Breakfast on Housing (1x/year) to educate business leaders on economic impact of the current housing crisis. 

Advocacy:

• Host Bi-State Legislative Breakfast every two years to engage state policy makers in discussion of local health priorities. 

• Educate policy makers and others about the health impacts of the current housing crisis. 

Equity:

• Educate policy makers and others about the health impacts of the current housing crisis on low-income and other marginalized groups. 

• Improve referral networks and capacity to support vulnerable populations in the places where they live. 

Households that spend over 50% of their income on housing are considered severely cost-burdened. These households often need to make sacrifices on other necessities, including nutritious food, health care, and utilities. Thus, the health outcomes of residents of severely cost-burdened households tend to be worse than those of the general population. The majority of severely cost-burdened households are occupied by renters. Increasing the availability of public housing options has been proven to decrease the number of cost-burdened households.

• Vital Communities (VC)
• Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs)
• Twin Pines Housing
• Lebanon Housing Authority
• Windham & Windsor Housing Trust
• Springfield Housing Authority 
• Public Health Council (PHC)

Data Overview: The US Census Bureau releases the American Community Survey (ACS) yearly. The ACS has a smaller reach than the decennial census, but asks similar questions to obtain yearly data.

Limitations: Five years of severe housing cost burden data are pooled together for each data point. Utilizing multiple years of increases data accuracy, but makes ascertaining short-term trends more challenging.