Brenda Torpy, Co-Director, Burlington Community Land Trust

Ms. Torpy told the Club about the results of a recent study conducted by the BCLT.

"Despite growing wealth, wages are not keeping up with the price of property, and housing is therefore becoming more expensive," she said. "There are also many barriers other than money that keep people from buying a home."

The BCLT provides a number of services to help qualified individuals find safe, stable housing, in which they may have a financial and personal stake.

The benefits of home ownership go beyond financial stability, according to Ms. Torpy. Having a stable and safe environment for a family manifests itself as children perform better at school, and the family becomes more involved in community participation.