- How do I apply for subsidized
rental housing in my area?
VHFA
does not own or manage any multifamily rental housing. Each
housing development VHFA finances has an independent owner
and housing manager that accepts applications for housing and
screens tenants.
Each housing development may have its own
application for housing.
To find a specific subsidized apartment
building located in Vermont, search the Directory
of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH) and
contact the Rental Agent or Management Agent listed.
If you're interested in a rental subsidy to use in any apartment,
contact the local Public Housing Agency (PHA) or if there isn't
one for that area, contact the Vermont
State Housing Authority (VSHA).
Contact
information for local PHAs and VSHA is available at the
Vermont Housing Data Web site.
- Where
are there accessible apartments for people with disabilities?
The
Directory
of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH) is
a searchable listing of all subsidized housing in Vermont.
You can search specifically for wheelchair accessible
units in an area.
There is no statewide, comprehensive listing
of accessible apartments that includes non-subsidized
units.
- How do I apply for Section 8?
Section 8, otherwise known as
the Housing Choice Voucher program, is a rental subsidy that
can be used in any decent, modest
apartment. This rental assistance can be tenant-based,
meaning it moves with a tenant from one qualified apartment
to the next.
VHFA does not administer the Section 8 program.
We do not have applications for this program.
To learn
more, read
about the Section 8 program on HUD's website.
A
list of Public Housing Agencies in Vermont that do administer
this
program is available at the
Vermont Housing Data Web site.
- I'm homeless. Is there a shelter in my area?
VHFA does not
own or operate emergency shelters.
Crisis Community Services
provides help such as shelter and food through nonprofit,
community organizations. Call 802.241.2454 or contact
one of Vermont's local homeless shelters.
- What affordable
rental housing is available in my area?
The Directory
of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH) is an online
listing of all subsidized affordable housing in Vermont.
To apply for that housing, contact the Rental Agent or Management
Agent listed at the DoARH.
If you're interested in a rental subsidy to use
in any apartment, contact the local Public Housing
Agency (PHA). If there isn't one for that area, contact the
Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA). Contact
information for
local PHAs and VSHA is available at the
Vermont Housing Data Web site.
- I need help with my finances. What online tools exist?
There are many online tools and information that can help you become a more educated consumer.
The links below can help you create a household budget, determine how much renter's insurance you need, file for unemployment,
find affordable child care, set up a savings plan to buy a home, and much more.
- I need
financial help. What state and federal benefits do I qualify
to receive?
There are two online resources that can help you understand what
programs are available and if you qualify for each. The State
of Vermont's Agency of Human Services has an easy-to-use tool
called the Screen
Door and
the Federal government has several
Vermont state and federal programs listed online.
- Do
I qualify for affordable rental housing?
Each affordable housing
development financed by VHFA has unique rules regarding income
limits and tenancy restrictions. Brief
descriptions of the most common housing programs are
available at the Vermont Housing Data Web site.
Feel free to call the Rental Agent
or Management Agent of the property you're interested in
directly and
ask them about their tenancy restrictions and income limits.
- I'm having trouble paying my rent and
might be evicted. Who do I call?
The Vermont Agency of Human Services
(AHS) offers intervention to help prevent
eviction and to assist homeless individuals and families in
finding permanent housing. Services include tenant education
and counseling, tenant/landlord advocacy, promotion of the
need for affordable and/or emergency housing, and information
about possible homeownership opportunities. For more information
on who to contact locally, consult
a list of providers at the AHS Web site.
- Can
you help me find a mobile home?
The Vermont Housing Data Web site maintains a
listing of all nonprofit and cooperatively-owned mobile home
parks
in
Vermont. For
vacancy information, contact the management agent
of the park you're interested in directly.
- I can't pay for my heat. Can someone help me?
You might
be eligible for assistance through the Crisis Fuel program if
you're in a heating crisis. You're considered to be in crisis
if you:
- Have no fuel;
- Are very close to running out of fuel; or
- Have received a disconnection
notice from your electric company, and electricity is required
to run your heating system or you have electric heat
Contact
your local Community Action Agency for
help. Crisis assistance is available at night, on the weekends,
and during holidays.
- I live out of state and am
moving to Vermont. How do I find affordable rental housing?
If you know
the area you're moving to, you can search
the Directory of Affordable
Rental Housing (DoARH)
for subsidized apartments in that region.
To apply to a specific housing development, you must request
an application directly from that development's Rental Agent
or Management Agent.
- I have a Section 8 and want
to move to Vermont. How do I find an apartment?
Sometimes households with Section
8 Housing Choice Vouchers can move to other states or areas
and maintain their
rental assistance. The best way to do this is to contact
the Public Housing Authority that
currently administers your voucher and ask them for assistance
in moving to Vermont. They will help you through the process.
- What are my rights as a tenant?
All VHFA
housing must comply with all applicable federal and state Fair
Housing laws.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic
Opportunity runs a statewide program called Vermont
Tenants Inc.
On their
Web site is a Renting
in Vermont handbook that explains all
the rights of tenants and landlords. There are other resources
available online to help tenants and landlords understand their
responsibilities under federal and state laws.
- I think I've
been discriminated against in my housing. How do I file a complaint?
All
VHFA housing must comply with all applicable federal and state
Fair Housing laws.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic
Opportunity runs a statewide program called the Fair
Housing Project. Go online
to learn how to file a complaint or to learn more about fair
housing rights.
- Are there currently affordable
rental housing vacancies in Vermont?
The Directory of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH) includes
a
voluntary listing of all vacant units in the subsidized housing
listed.
Housing managers are allowed to update the Web site with unit
vacancy information and that information can be viewed by all
visitors to the site.
Do
not assume these are the only vacant units in subsidized
housing in Vermont!
There might be more vacant units that have
not been posted to the Web site, so it is best to call the
Rental Agent or Management Agent for each specific property
you're
interested
in.
- How long is the rental housing waiting list?
Each housing
development in Vermont is managed independently. Therefore,
the wait lists for each housing project are managed
separately.
Not every rental housing development has a waiting list. You
must contact each Rental Agent or Management Agent individually
to determine if there is a waiting list and how long it is.
They can also tell you if the waiting list is "open," meaning
it is accepting new applicants.
There are separate waiting lists
for tenant-based rental assistance programs such as the Section
8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
To find out if the waiting list for that assistance is available
— and how long the waiting list is — contact the local Public
Housing Agency (PHA). If there isn't a PHA for your area,
contact the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA). Contact
information for local PHAs and VSHA is available at
the Vermont Housing Data Web site.
- Are there
any programs to help me buy a home?
VHFA has several programs to help renters become
first-time homebuyers.
Start with "Buying
a home with a VHFA loan."
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