April 27, 2023 – UVM Health Network celebrated the opening of its first 61-unit apartment building dedicated to employee housing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, at 303 Market St., South Burlington.

South Burlington, VT – As healthcare institutions nationwide face recruitment challenges, the University of Vermont Health Network has strategically invested in the City of South Burlington to bring more housing and childcare options to our employees in Chittenden County. 

This past April, The UVM Health Network unveiled its first investment in employee housing with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 303 Market Street in South Burlington. The new structure houses 61 apartments, offering a range of accommodations from studios to three bedrooms, complete with modern amenities such as a fitness room, laundry facilities, and even a dog-washing space.

With more than half of the units leased on day one, the initial response from employees has been positive. These incoming tenants are a diverse mix of the hospital’s workforce, from nurses and respiratory therapists to environmental services and patient support teams. 

By offering our employees quality living accommodations, UVMHN aims to encourage more professionals to relocate to the area and stay longer, reducing the need for expensive temporary staffing and lessening the rate of employee turnover across the organization.

As the opening of 303 Market St. had such a positive impact on our employees in South Burlington and continues to reduce long-term recruitment challenges, UVMHN’s vision for innovative staff housing did not stop there. 

Another 120-unit employee housing building project is currently in the works, located next to the first site. The employee apartments available at this brand-new facility are projected to open and be ready for occupancy by the Summer of 2024.

UVM Health Network’s new building, located at 112 Garden St., will offer:

• 120 apartments for UVM Health Network employees;
• A 5,000-sq.-foot childcare facility with the capacity to accommodate 75 children; and,
• 1,500 sq. feet of retail space, likely to be filled by a cafe, open to the UVMHN employee community, their families, and the public.

As part of the Network’s ongoing efforts to help its workforce and address high living costs, this is a positive step for UVMHN in its mission to support its employees while providing quality healthcare services to the South Burlington community. Sunny Eappen, MD, MBA, UVM Health Network President and Chief Executive Officer, explained the significance of these projects: “It is vital for our Network to have enough providers and staff to meet the record-level demand for healthcare services in our region. These projects represent a strategic investment to support our people and build a sustainable workforce as we reduce our reliance on temporary workers.”

Rebecca Kapsalis, Associate Vice President of Talent Acquisition for the UVM Health Network, echoed Dr. Eappen’s sentiment and added, “Being able to offer these units will help more new employees relocate here and keep more of our colleagues working with us.”

Parallel to the housing challenge is the demand for dependable and high-quality childcare. With waitlists stretching on, many parents like Molly Lawrence, Community Health Implementation Strategist for the UVM Health Network, grapple with limited options. Reflecting on her challenges, Lawrence mentioned, “These past few years have been difficult to weather, and I am extremely grateful for the childcare we found for our son. I am very excited about this responsive investment in providing an essential resource that I hope will ease the stress experienced by my fellow colleagues and parents.”

The UVM Health Network is immensely proud to collaborate with the City of South Burlington. This partnership promises housing and a future where healthcare professionals have access to the resources they need, setting a new benchmark for healthcare institutions nationwide.

Are you a healthcare professional interested in joining our dynamic and growing community at The UVM Health Network? Join us as we innovate healthcare for our patients and one another, and feel supported along the way. Learn more at https://www.uvmhealthnetworkcareers.org/.