BRATTLEBORO — Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing, through its Apartments in Homes program, is currently seeking homeowners willing to renovate areas of their homes to host renters.
The program exists as a way for people who have more space than they need on their properties to earn extra money by housing people looking for apartments with funds from the organization.
“It’s a symbiotic relationship,” explains Elizabeth Hall, a board member of the non-profit organization Brattleboro Area Affordable Housing.
In the Apartments in Homes program, Brattleboro homeowners will have the opportunity to create an apartment and receive assistance from the program, which will provide technical assistance and offer up to $7,000 toward construction costs.
The responsibility for construction rests entirely with the homeowner, and the grant amount is based on 50 percent reimbursement of actual construction costs up to $14,000.
Hall says the Apartments in Homes program just received funding from the city of Brattleboro, allowing the program to fund five upcoming projects this year.
“We’ve finished one project, we’ve got another one coming up right now, but basically we’ve got money for five more projects and we’d love to get things rolling.
“It’s amazing how many houses in Vermont only have one or two people in them. There are a lot of people who have a lot more space than they need and if they want to make more money to help with some of their bills, they can get an apartment and have someone live with them on their property,” Hall continued.
The ideal person for this program is someone who has extra space and is willing to take on a small project. In return for helping someone during the area’s housing crisis, homeowners would earn some extra income while being helped in the project’s business with funding and support from the program.
The total cost of creating apartments has ranged from $5,000 to $50,000 in the area. Rental income usually pays back that cost within two to five years, and then net rent typically pays the majority of property taxes, the organization notes. Homeowners are free to rent to whoever they want, and when there is a tenant, BAAH will be available for guidance and support.
Applicants must comply with city building codes and have their proposed residential area first ruled out by program members.
“We’re going to go and look at their place and see if it seems like it’s a reasonable thing to be able to do. We’re not going to encourage people to embark on a project that’s not going to be good for them or anybody others. Usually we say go ahead,” Hall said.
She said the program helps homeowners find contractors, building inspectors or contact the fire department, no matter what city the project is located.
Hall also said she hopes the program can help cater to older homeowners.
“Often they live in big houses. They might want to stay there, but the expenses are high and they are alone. This would give them a chance to have someone else in the house who could help or just be another person that is around.”
“We’re trying to help people stay in their homes,” Hall said, speaking of BAAH. “We run on a very small budget. We are completely voluntary, but I think we get a lot done for the budget we run on.”
The program started in 2003 and in 2017 had helped to create over 50 apartments. Most have been in houses, some in garages or barns.
The program is limited to single-family homes in Windham Country that the owner lives in and where there is not already an apartment on the property and where the owner plans to stay in the homes for at least five years. To apply, call 246-2224, Ext 1 or email: info@baahvermont.org.