Apply for rental housing

Step 1

COMPLETE

Preliminary Rental Housing Application

Step 2

WAIT

Until You Are Notified That You Are Near the Top of One or More Waitlists

Step 3

COMPLETE

Rental Housing Application.

Step 4

SUBMIT YOUR FORMS IF NOT APPLYING ONLINE

Via Email, Fax, Mail or Drop Off

For information on how your application is reviewed, see our Tenant Selection Policy below in the How to Apply—Step by Step

APPLICATION FAQs

How Long Will I Have To Wait to Get Offered an Apartment?

Applicants may wait over 15 months after submitting a Preliminary Application before moving onto the next step. We cannot guarantee when you will be offered an apartment once you become an approved applicant. If you need housing sooner than that or need to know exactly when you will be moving, you will want to explore other options.

What Do I Qualify For?

(Voucher holders may qualify for both tax-credit and market-rate apartments, regardless of income.)

Number of People in Household

Annual Minimum Income

Market Rate Income

1

$22,800

$49,980

2

$22,800

$57,120

3

$27,600

$64,260

4

$27,600

$71,340

5

$31,800

$77,100

6

$31,800

$82,800

7

$36,000

$88,500

8

$36,000

$94,200

TAX-CREDIT APARTMENT

For applicants whose income is between the Annual Minimum Income and Market Rate Income.

MARKET-RATE APARTMENT

For applicants whose income is the same or higher than the Market Rate Income.

SUBSIDIZED APARTMENT

You may apply to our SUBSIDIZED PROPERTY WAITLISTS (households pay 30% of their income toward rent) by visiting the following link: www.getahome.org/subsidized-apartment/ (please note, you will have to apply to each subsidized property separately).

If I Qualify for Tax-Credit, How is My Rent Determined?

It is important to understand that your rent is NOT based on a percentage of your income. A tax-credit apartment has a fixed rent that is cheaper than what most apartments of that size are currently renting for in the area (market rate).

What Will My Rent Be if I Move to a CHT Apartment?

(Effective January 1, 2024. Prices are subject to change.)

CHITTENDEN COUNTY

Bedroom
Size

Tax
Credit

Market
Rate

Studio

$1,050

$1,341

1

$1,150

$1,441

2

$1,375

$1,887

3

$1,650

$2,390

4

$1,850

$2,764

   

FRANKLIN & GRAND ISLE COUNTY

Bedroom
Size

Tax
Credit

Market
Rate

Studio

$950

$1,341

1

$1,050

$1,441

2

$1,275

$1,887

3

$1,550

$2,390

4

$1,750

$2,764

   
HOW TO APPLY—STEP BY STEP

Step 1: Complete Preliminary Rental Housing Application

Preliminary application

You will receive a letter confirming receipt of your preliminary application. 

>> Download and SAVE the following 3 forms:

Property Waitlist Information

Tenant Selection Policy

HUD Tenant Selection Policy

Step 2: Wait Until You Are Notified That You Are Near the Top of One or More Waitlists

• Champlain Housing Trust’s rental housing programs use a waitlist system, based on the date a preliminary application is received.

• Please note, we are currently experiencing longer than average wait times due to the area’s low vacancy rate. Applicants may wait over 15 months after submitting a preliminary application before moving to the next step.

Step 3: Complete Rental Housing Application

We hold your preliminary application until you are near the top of one or more chosen waitlists. At this time, we will request that you complete the Rental Housing Application that we will mail to you. We will process your application including a credit and criminal screening, as well as checking your listed rental references.

Step 4: Submit Your Forms

EMAIL: [email protected] OR

FAX: (802-862-5054) OR

MAIL or DROP OFF: 88 King Street, Burlington, VT 05401 or 13 Lake St, St. Albans, VT 05478

SUBSIDIZED APARTMENTS / OPTIONAL

If your household income is below the amounts shown in the table, and you do not have a voucher, you should select properties from the OPTIONAL SUBSIDIZED WAITLIST SECTION to be added to the wait lists for those properties.

Households pay 30% of their income toward rent in subsidized apartments. Some properties are only for senior or disabled households.

Property helps manage direct subsidy between a government agency (HUD/RD) and the tenant
7 Property Waitlists with many waitlists closed due to demand
Wait times on average take longer due to high demand
You must apply for each property separately

 

CO-OP HOUSING / OPTIONAL

Most of us understand renting or owning; cooperative housing is a third option. Co-op members are both residents and shareholders of their property. They work together to keep their property and community running well, sharing the responsibilities that a homeowner or landlord typically handles. If you would like to live in a co-op, please complete this addendum to be added to the waitlist.

MANUFACTURED HOUSING COMMUNITIES / OPTIONAL

If you would like to rent a lot in a Manufactured Housing Community managed by Champlain Housing Trust, please complete this addendum and provide information on the manufactured home you will be placing on the lot.

Quick Links—MORE FAQs

We do not offer emergency housing. If you need emergency housing, please call 211 to be connected with Vermont Economic Services.

Of course! We can offer answers to your questions by phone at (802) 861-7350 or email at [email protected]. Please be sure to leave your questions in our voicemail box if you must leave a message. Please note that Champlain Housing Trust offices are currently closed to the public, so we are unable to offer assistance in-person.

If you cannot afford rent with your income, you may be eligible for a Voucher from a Housing Authority. Apply for a Voucher by contacting the Housing Authorities listed below:

Burlington Housing Authority
65 Main Street, Burlington
802-864-0538 

Winooski Housing Authority
83 Barlow Street, Winooski
802-655-2360

Vermont State Housing Authority
1 Prospect Street, Montpelier
800-820-5119

Completing an Application May Qualify Your Household for:

• Market Rate apartment (no income limits) or

• Tax Credit apartment (income limits apply, see chart below)

Complete the online Preliminary Application (click here).

OR, submit hard copy applications in the following ways:

By mail or drop-off to our physical locations:
• 88 King Street, Burlington, VT  05401
• 13 Lake Street, St. Albans, VT 05478       

By fax to: 802.862.5054

By email, as a single .pdf document, to: [email protected]

Due to our area’s low vacancy rates, especially for affordable housing, approved applicants are currently experiencing longer than average wait times being offered an apartment. We are seeing average wait times of over 15 months. We are unable to estimate the length of time an applicant will remain on any of the waitlists before being offered an apartment. Each of our waitlists moves independently, and only moves up when current tenants choose to move out. Approved applicants towards the top of any waitlist are notified when an apartment becomes available.