Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. Like other big issues facing Vermont, the shortage of housing in the Green Mountain State was understood to be a problem before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. In 2019, the state floated a $37 million bond to address that problem. But the pandemic has worsened the stateâs housing shortage, as prices rise, preventing renters from becoming home buyers and apartment-hunters from finding housing. Itâs affecting employers who must now contend with whether new workers can relocate â from across the state, or across the country. âWeâre definitely hearing from employers really across the state,â Housing Commissioner Josh Hanford said.