Former Burlington mayor Miro Weinberger is taking on a new role as the leader of an internship course at the University of Vermont focused on Vermont’s housing shortage. Titled “Finding a Path to 30,000 New Vermont Homes,” the one-credit course will involve meeting with housing experts, writing policy memos, and preparing presentations for the Student Research Conference in April.
Weinberger, who has a background in affordable housing development, sees the housing shortage as one of Vermont’s largest challenges. The 30,000 homes figure in the course title comes from a needs assessment that stated Vermont needs 24,000 to 36,000 new “primary homes” in the next five years.
Throughout the semester, students will have the opportunity to work on policy memos that may be shared with state legislators and others working on housing issues. The course also includes guest speakers such as Maura Collins, executive director of VHFA, and Alex Farrell, commissioner of the state’s Department of Housing and Community Development.
Weinberger’s role as the spring 2025 Scholar in Residence at the Patrick Leahy Honors College will also focus on the internship. The Honors College recently developed a minor in civic engagement, reflecting their commitment to addressing pressing community challenges.
Students in the class have praised the opportunity to engage with the housing crisis in a hands-on way and have found the conversations with fellow students and guest speakers to be particularly valuable. The internship offers a unique opportunity for students to influence public policy on housing while gaining practical experience in the field.
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