WEST LEBANON — Vital Communities next month will host a free public presentation and discussion on one possible tool in solving our region’s housing challenge: accessory dwelling units (ADUs). Author and ADU expert Kol Peterson will lead the conversation, “Can Accessory Dwelling Units Help Meet Our Region’s Housing Needs?” on Thursday, Oct. 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Kilton Public Library in West Lebanon.
An accessory dwelling unit is a simple and old idea: having a second small dwelling right on the same property as, or attached to, your single-family home (think “in-law apartment”). An ADU can provide an affordable place for you or others to live, can be designed for your needs, and can provide rental income. This event offers a chance for Upper Valley residents to learn more about the potential benefits of ADUs and consider whether they might be a valuable part of solving our region’s housing challenges.
“If the Upper Valley is to thrive socially and economically in the future, we need to get creative about what we can do with our existing resources,” says Vital Communities Workforce Housing Coordinator Mike Kiess. “Accessory Dwelling Units are one way for people to adjust their homes to suit changing needs. This event can help homeowners, planners, contractors, and lenders to learn about what has worked well in other places, and consider what we want to try in our Upper Valley towns and villages.
The presentation is free, but people interested in attending should register and find more information at VitalCommunities.org/Housing.
This event is generously sponsored by New Hampshire Housing, which has published a helpful Homeowner’s Guide to Accessory Dwelling Units to help homeowners think through questions about ADU construction and ownership. Learn more at NHHFA.org.
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