In-Person Event – Join NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes “From Housing Justice to Civic Power: Vermont Action Summit” on 4/25 in Partnership with Vermont Housing, Civic Engagement, and Voting Rights Leaders

NLIHC’s Our Homes, Our Votes campaign, a nonpartisan initiative to increase voter turnout among low-income renters and elevate housing as a key election issue, is partnering with a coalition of Vermont-based housing justice, civic engagement, and voting rights organizations to host the “From Housing Justice to Civic Power: A Vermont Action Summit” as part of Vermont’s annual Fair Housing Month. 

Each April, Fair Housing Month brings together partners across Vermont to honor the passage of the Fair Housing Act through education, community engagement, and advocacy efforts that address housing discrimination and promote equitable access to housing. This summit builds on that tradition by centering the connection between housing justice and democratic participation at a critical moment for both issues. 

The Vermont Action Summit will convene tenant leaders, housing advocates, civic engagement organizations, and Vermont residents for a dynamic, action-oriented event focused on strengthening civic power among renters and advancing equitable housing policies. At a time when barriers to voting persist and housing instability continues to impact communities across the country; the summit will provide space for participants to explore how these issues intersect and what it will take to ensure renters are both housed and heard. 

The summit will feature an opening panel moderated by Tia Turner, NLIHC Project Manager for Our Homes, Our Votes, with speakers including David Foss, Tenant Leader; Rev. Mark Hughes of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance; Lindsay St. Amour of Disability Rights Vermont; and Alex Karambelas of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Panelists will examine the current landscape of housing and voting rights, highlighting the barriers facing tenants and historically marginalized communities, and identifying opportunities for advocates to take action. 

Following the panel, participants will engage in interactive Action Labs designed to move from conversation to strategy. Each lab will support participants in identifying key challenges and developing concrete, actionable steps to advance housing justice and civic engagement in their communities. 

To close out the event, participants will have the opportunity to take immediate civic action through a voter registration effort supported by the League of Women Voters, the Burlington Board of Voter Registration, and the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office ensuring attendees leave not only with strategies, but with tools to act. 

The Vermont Action Summit reflects OHOV’s broader commitment to equipping advocates, tenant leaders, and community partners with the tools and strategies needed to protect voting rights and build long-term civic power. By bringing together partners from across the housing and democracy fields, the summit aims to strengthen collaboration, elevate tenant voices, and advance a more inclusive and representative democracy. 

Additional details, including the full agenda and registration information, can be found here. We encourage all partners and advocates in Vermont to join us for this timely and action-driven convening. 

This is an in-person event. If you’re in the Vermont area on April 25, register here to attend.