Executive Director Sarah Carpenter joined partners from Cathedral Square and other agencies to launch construction of Elm Place, a 30-unit building for seniors in Milton. Elm Place will be Vermont’s first multi-family building certified to Passive House standards. Better windows and doors, added insulation and improved air sealing are expected to enable the building to use roughly 65 percent less energy.
Development
New tools help real estate professionals appraise energy-efficient, high performance homes
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
The Vermont Green Home Alliance has completed the guide Appraised Value and Energy Efficiency: Getting It Right for building design professionals, builders, home performance contractors, appraisers, lenders, and real estate agents. This guide is intended to help professionals prepare for the increasing level of high performance new home construction and existing home energy efficiency improvement happening in Vermont.
VHFA awards millions in tax credits for affordable housing: Credits create 31 permanent homes for people who are homeless in four communities
By: Jason
BURLINGTON, VT -- On Monday, April 18, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners committed federal low-income housing tax credits and state affordable housing tax credits that will provide almost $25 million in upfront equity to construct and renovate housing for low-income Vermonters and will increase permanent supportive housing for people who were formerly homeless.
Unconscoius bias & fair housing 101
Our brains process information differently. When making important life decisions, we weigh a few factors deliberately (slowly). But for hundreds of other factors, we must rely on intuitive judgment — and we weigh these unconsciously (quickly). Even if in our slow thinking we work to avoid discrimination, it can easily creep into our fast thinking.
Accessible housing can be the norm, not the exception
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
The toolbox for enabling seniors who want to grow older in their current homes is becoming increasingly effective, according to experts consulted in a recent How Housing Matters article.
Canal Street Veterans Housing celebrates 5 years of success
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
Five years after opening its doors to homeless veterans, Canal Street Veterans Housing is celebrating its success in moving residents to permanent housing and employment. Eighty-seven percent of all residents moved into permanent housing after leaving Canal Street and all of those who were able to work were employed.
Federal HOME program saved through coalition-building and leadership
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
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.
Legislative victories expected for housing tax credit and HOME program
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
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.
Housing credit applications due January 29, 2016
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
VHFA intends to consider new projects for the federal 9% Housing Credit and Vermont State Housing Credits at the April 2016 VHFA Board of Commissioners meeting. In order to provide sufficient time to review the proposals from developers, VHFA must receive a complete application by January 29, 2016.
Time to submit entries for the 2016 Housing and Community Design Awards Program
By: Leslie Black-Plumeau
The American Institute of Architects, in conjunction with HUD, is now accepting entries for the 2016 Housing and Community Design Awards Program. Owners of structures and architects licensed in the United States are invited to submit project designs of any size, budget, or style. Only projects completed after January, 1, 2011 will be considered for the awards. All entries must be submitted electronically before November 20, 2015 at 5:00 pm EST.