Home Share Now is teaming up with the Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District to host a free Button Up Vermont workshop.

The workshop will be held Wednesday, May 23 from 6:00-8:00 pm at the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce. Button Up Vermont is an informational session designed to help Vermonters learn the basics of building science and how to improve energy efficiency in their homes.

The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce is located at 33 Stewart Road, in Berlin.

Dave Fowler, operations manager at CVCAC Weatherization, will present the workshop. Dave is also a BPI-certified contractor and he will be able to answer participant’s specific questions about their homes and businesses.

Button Up Vermont was originally developed in 2008 by Central Vermont Community Action Council and is offered this year in partnership with Efficiency Vermont. It includes an overview of why building efficiency is so important here in Vermont, illustrates how homes lose energy, and outlines clear steps that homeowners can take to address this energy loss.

Owners of homes and businesses in central Vermont are invited to attend to learn about actions they can take to lower energy bills and make their homes and businesses more comfortable and affordable.

“We’re offering this workshop because with rising heating costs, everyone needs to be thinking about ways to make their homes more efficient,” said Home Share Now Executive Director Christina Goodwin. “We hope that by sharing this information, we can help home share participants and other central Vermonters be more comfortable in their homes and gain greater control of their heating expenses.”

Home Share Now is co-hosting this workshop after expanding its mission in 2010 to include promoting energy efficiency and environmentally sound decision making among home share participants.

For more information on the Button Up Vermont workshops visit buttonupvt.com.

This time of year, many retired Vermonters are returning home from a winter away in warmer climates. At Home Share Now, we’re helping an increasing number of these “snow birds” make home share matches that provide them with company while they’re home and peace of mind while they’re away.

Case in point is Janet, who recently returned to the Barre home she shares with newlyweds David and Grace. David first moved in with Janet as a bachelor, and helped her with chores around the house. Now he and his bride keep the home fires burning while Janet heads south for the coldest months.

Janet knew she could count on David and Grace to take care of her home while she was away. What she wasn’t expecting was to come home to a bouquet of fresh flowers on the table and a homemade lemon blueberry cake in her refrigerator.

Here’s wishing you a spring full of pleasant surprises from the Home Share Now team!

Buy raffle tickets at the Barre office or purchase online by making a donation–just put “raffle” in the comments section.

$10 for 1, $20 for 3, $40 for 6!

Proceeds will be matched by local supporter Gardner Insurance Services.

This dollhouse was built and painted by Julio Lavin with the help of John Micknick especially for Home Share Now using materials donated by Real Good Toys (www.realgoodtoys.com) in Barre. John and Julio frequently build custom dollhouses for local non-profit organization raffles. The furnishings were donated by Candy Diamond.

Dollhouse details (and there are lots of them!):

 Finished and stained floors
 Painted interior trim, doors, stairs
 Custom windows and lace curtains
 Stained wooden roof shingles and painted exterior
 Working interior and exterior doors
 Front porch and two balconies
 6 full-size rooms plus a smaller tower room
 Partially furnished with room for your custom touch!

In 2011 we reached out to home sharers using facebook, twitter, Craig’s List, Front Porch Forum, and our own revamped website.

Now we’re excited to announce a new tool to help virtually spread the word about home sharing.

With the help of Green River Pictures, we’ve put together a series of six video segments to help explain who we are, what we do, and why it’s important to home share. Thanks to John Lazenby for his still photography.

Check out all the clips at our new Home Share Now YouTube channel!

BARRE– The Home Share Now board of directors is excited to announce Christina Goodwin, of Worcester, will serve as the organization’s next executive director. Goodwin currently serves as Home Share Now’s associate director. She was chosen as the result of a competitive nationwide search.

Board President John Sayles said he’s proud to offer Goodwin the helm of this dynamic, growing organization.

“The hiring committee was pleased to have such a strong internal candidate for the Executive Director position,” said Sayles. “The board was unanimous in its enthusiasm in offering Goodwin Home Share Now’s top job.”

Goodwin came to Home Share Now just over a year ago with a background in nonprofit management, environmental conservation, and grant writing. Sayles said this skillset makes Goodwin uniquely qualified to take the nonprofit to the next level.

Goodwin commented, “Home Share Now is in a powerful position to be a national model for how people define cohabitation in a way that addresses critical issues like environmental health and financial resiliency. I’m thrilled to be a part of this critical movement.”

Goodwin replaces Betsy Reid in the role of Executive Director. Reid launched the program eight years ago, and said she will always remain a strong Home Share Now supporter.

“It’s been very exciting to watch the organization grow and expand with new energy,” said Reid. While she said Home Share Now will always be close to her heart, she knows she’s leaving the program in a position of promise.

Goodwin added, “Betsy Reid, with the help of an exemplary team including staff and volunteers, has built a solid foundation for real change. Central Vermont is ahead of the curve to address affordable housing in a new way, thanks to Home Share Now. I look forward to developing partnerships that further the expanded mission.”

Goodwin pointed to the nonprofit’s current effort to find housing solutions for flood victims as an example of the program’s ability to nimbly address basic needs in a time of crisis.

“Home Share Now’s response to Tropical Storm Irene and the critical need for housing options is just one reason I’m passionate about the work we’re doing,” said Goodwin. “This recent effort exemplifies the dynamic thinking that drives this organization.”

Home Share Now serves the communities of Lamoille, Orange and Washington Counties. To learn more about home sharing call 802-479-8544 or visit www.HomeShareNow.org.

BARRE – Home Share Now is facilitating short-term and long-term home sharing matches for people displaced by Tropical Storm Irene. Home Share Now has eight years experience matching people and homes. Now it is putting that experience to work helping people displaced by flooding find temporary housing.

If the flood has displaced you from your home Home Share Now can help you find a place to stay in, or near, your community. If you have room in your home to share during this time of crisis, Home Share Now can put you in touch with neighbors in need.

If you need a place to live until you can get back in your home…
If you need a short-term solution until you can make more permanent arrangements…
If you have extra space in your home to share…

Please call Home Share Now at 802-479-8544. Home Share Now primarily serves communities in Washington, Orange and Lamoille Counties. Learn more about home sharing at HomeShareNow.org.

After over eight years of successfully matching people and homes, Home Share Now celebrated a number of milestones Monday, June 6 by throwing an open house party!

“Home Share Now has a lot to celebrate,” commented Executive Director Betsy Reid. “We are now serving more Vermonters, helping to create community two people at a time. We have so many people to thank for our success, we decided to hold an open house at our new offices in Barre. But this is more than just an open house, it’s a celebration – an open house party!”

Home Share Now was previously known as Home Share of Central Vermont, and operated under the Central Vermont Council on Aging. The name change to Home Share Now coincides with the program becoming its own nonprofit organization, and a mission expanded to serve Vermonters of all ages.

In the past year, Home Share Now opened its new flagship office on Barre’s Main Street, as well as a satellite office at the River Arts Center, in Morrisville. The organization has broadened its coverage area to include Vermont’s Lamoille and Orange Counties, in addition to Washington County.

Lt. Governor Phil Scott spoke to a bipartisan crowd of Home Share Now’s political supporters, board members, volunteers, friends, staff and program participants. He called home sharing a “win-win” saying it’s a timely solution to environmental and housing problems facing Vermonters. Eluding to the recent flooding in Barre and other parts of the state, Lt. Gov. Scott said this is the time to support each other in the spirit of sharing.

No celebration is complete without a cake, and this was no exception. Former Governor Jim Douglas, who has long been a champion of home sharing in Vermont, was on-hand to cut the Home Share Now cake and saying, “I just can’t think of a better organization to celebrate than Home Share Now.”

Home Share Now matches central Vermont home providers with room to spare with people seeking an affordable housing solution. In lieu of some or all of the cost of rent, home sharers contribute services such as cooking, cleaning and running errands. Home share matches reduce energy consumption, reuse existing housing stock, and foster a sense of community. To learn more log on to www.homesharenow.org or call 479-8544.

Photos by White Leaf Photography