Legislation

With the passing of the State budget and enactment of a bond that could produce $35 million, Vermont is making its largest single commitment ever of state dollars for affordable housing. VHFA will issue the revenue bond and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) will administer the funds statewide to expand Vermont’s stock of permanently affordable housing. 

The Governor will sign the budget bill containing the bond on Wednesday, June 28^th at 11:00 a.m. in the Ceremonial Office at the Vermont State House in Montpelier.

The Vermont Senate has passed a bill (S.100) to enact a $35 million housing bond to spur the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing across the State.  The bill is now in the House with just a few days to go until adjournment.  Recommended in Governor Scott's budget proposal, the housing bond would address a significant need for affordable housing in Vermont, help to alleviate homelessness, house the workforce, and provide expanded homeownership opportunities for Vermonters.  

Since it was signed into law as part of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the Low Income Housing Tax Credit (Housing Credit) has become our nation’s most successful tool for building and preserving affordable rental housing.  By providing an incentive for private sector investment, the Housing Credit has financed nearly 3 million apartments across the country for low-income workers, families, seniors, veterans, and those with special needs.  It creates opportunities for the millions of families and individuals in our country today who otherwise would pay an excessive portion of their income for h

Please join us at the State House in Montpelier on January 5 to renew Vermont's commitment to ending homelessness.  The day will include time to meet with lawmakers and experts to discuss effective strategies Vermont could use to conquer remaining challenges in ending homelessness. A vigil will also be held to remember those who have died without homes and the hundreds of Vermonters still searching for safe, secure housing they can afford.  

The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition is co-sponsoring this event with the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness. 

Next week's Vermont Statewide Housing Conference will provide many opportunities to get your questions answered about how the election affects Vermont. Walk-in registration is available at the same initial low price so join us on November 14-15 at the Burlington Hilton.

At the invitation of Senator Patrick Leahy, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro visited Burlington yesterday to meet with the state’s housing leaders and attend a ribbon-cutting at the new Bright Street affordable housing project.

Faced with increasing numbers of low-income renters who lack affordable housing, VHFA and our counterparts from other states are working together to support a bill developed by Washington State Senator Maria Cantwell. The bill calls for a substantial expansion of the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit—the primary financing mechanism for affordable rental housing for the last 30 years.  

The recent federal budget agreement included the survival of a program that has become a vital funding source for affordable rental housing in Vermont--the HOME Investment Partnership Program.  When proposals arose earlier last year to deeply cut the program, the National Association of Housing Finance Agencies (NCSHA) HOME Coalition tirelessly and effectively gathered evidence of the program’s impact, documented its widespread support and educated federal policy makers.

Two measures that help address the affordable housing needs of low-income Vermonters are likely to be passed in federal tax and omnibus spending bills on Capitol Hill this month.

The tax bill makes permanent the 9 percent minimum Low-Income Housing Tax Credit rate. A fixed minimum rate will bring much-needed predictability to the process of developing affordable rental housing.