Cindy Reid Received 2026 Erhard Mahnke Award

The Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont honored the longtime affordable housing advocate.

Updated on Oct. 6, 2026 in Awards

Bold vector editorial illustration of house keys on slate with maple leaf silhouettes, symbolizing Vermont housing development. — The Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont presented the 2026 Erhard Mahnke Award to affordable housing advocate Cindy Reid for her four-decade career. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont has presented the 2026 Erhard Mahnke Award to Cindy Reid, recognizing her lifelong dedication to expanding affordable housing access. Reid, who serves as the Director of Real Estate Development at Cathedral Square, has spent four decades working to develop homes for older Vermonters.

Why it matters

The award celebrates Reid's extensive efforts to advance affordable housing solutions across Vermont. Her work has significantly influenced state housing policy and community development programs for decades.

Reid has spent 17 years at the Vermont Housing Finance Agency and 13 years at Cathedral Square, where she manages 28 housing communities. Her career includes authoring a Community Land Trust Homeownership Program Manual.

The players

Cindy Reid

She is the Director of Real Estate Development at Cathedral Square and a long-time advocate for affordable housing in Vermont.

Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont

This organization advocates for affordable housing solutions and provides leadership in state homelessness policy.

Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition

This entity works to ensure all Vermonters have access to safe, secure, and affordable housing through advocacy and education.

Cathedral Square

This is a non-profit organization that develops and manages affordable housing communities for seniors and people with special needs.

The details

Reid began her professional journey in 1987 at the Burlington Community Land Trust and has since created hundreds of housing units for individuals with diverse needs. Throughout her tenure, she has held various leadership roles, including serving as chair of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition.

Reid started her career in 1987.
She served on the coalition steering committee from 2014 to 2022.
She served as the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition chair from 2016 to 2021.
Reid was honored with the Erhard Mahnke Award in 2026.
Reid is scheduled to retire at the end of 2026.

Culture Shift

Reid's career parallels the institutional evolution of housing non-profits in Vermont, moving from early land trust models to complex managed-care housing communities. Her departure marks the end of a legacy era defined by the rise of statewide affordable housing advocacy groups.

Residents of the 28 Cathedral Square communities may see transitions in leadership following Reid's upcoming retirement. The award highlights the continued importance of regional non-profit housing programs to maintain rental affordability for older Vermonters.

The takeaway

Reid leaves a lasting legacy through the hundreds of homes she helped create for underserved populations. Her career demonstrates how consistent advocacy and institutional leadership can shape the long-term viability of affordable housing in rural states.