On Wednesday, Governor Phil Scott and Treasurer Mike Pieciak announced a $55.5 million investment in housing, as part of the “10% in Vermont” local investment program.

VHFA will administer $50 million of these funds to construct or rehabilitate an estimated 1,000 homes over the next 2-3 years. The program will support the construction or rehabilitation of traditional affordable housing, market rate apartments, homeownership as well as housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. Additionally, reserves will be made available for households and housing impacted by this summer’s flooding.

The Vermont Zoning Atlas team is seeking volunteers to help complete its build-out across the state. This is an exciting opportunity to join a national data standardization project, be part of a grassroots team and be among the first researchers to work with raw zoning data across Vermont. The project started this summer by focusing on Chittenden County towns.   

The Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) is currently designing the Medicaid Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) Assistance Program. This new program is for adults who have Medicaid and who meet certain health and risk criteria. The Program will provide people with access to help getting and keeping housing as well as the support services and connection to resources that provide rental assistance. 

Many Vermont households were displaced after July’s flooding and are in need of housing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is seeking information from current rental/residential, multi-family property owners and managers in order to provide temporary housing to eligible FEMA applicants. FEMA’s Multi-family Lease and Repair (MLR) program is a form of temporary housing assistance to repair or make improvements to existing multi-family residential properties and offered as temporary housing to eligible households impacted by the flooding. The properties must be available for a term of no less than 18 months, with the option of a lease extension and able to accommodate many people in one location.

Join local officials, planners, business and property owners, statewide leaders at the Designation 2050 Design Summit on September 12, 2023.  Hear about the findings of the Designation Program Evaluation underway and help design the future of these programs – and Vermont.

Another way to contribute your ideas is through surveys tailored to your role in the community,  as a member of the general public or with a municipality, agency or partner organization or as an elected or appointed official.