VHFA released a draft program description and income limits this week for the Homeowner Assistance Fund that will start in the next few months.
Applications for Vermont COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance due by 4PM on June 30, 2021
Due to limited funding, applications for the current round of Vermont COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance must be submitted by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, June 30, 2021.
Seeking input on Homeowner Assistance Fund counseling/services and home repair components
VHFA is gathering input and data regarding two components of the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) slated to open later this year. HAF was created by the federal American Rescue Plan Act to provide relief for homeowners experiencing financial hardship after January 2020.
Report finds rural New England renters disproportionately affected by pandemic
A recent report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston finds that rural New England communities suffered larger economic losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic relative to nearby urban centers and rural counties across the United States.
Investing in housing will help marry growth with vibrancy
Vermont learned last month that its population grew by a slim 2.8% between 2010 and 2020, less than the national average of 7.4%. But by planning to invest millions in American Rescue Plan Act funds in homes and neighborhoods, Vermont policy makers have embraced the opportunity presented by this decade to accelerate community and economic vibrancy.
Share your ideas about helping Vermont homeowners recover from pandemic hardship
VHFA will be hosting two public meetings on June 1 and June 3 to discuss how to use federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to serve Vermont homeowners. The Homeowners Assistance Fund, created by the act, will provide Vermont up to $50 million over the next 3 years to provide assistance for mortgage payments and other expenses troubling homeowners with pandemic-related hardship.
Vermont’s COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program re-opens next week
The Vermont program that helps homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage or property taxes during the COVID-19 pandemic will re-open on Monday, May 3, 2021. The Mortgage Assistance Program will provide grants covering up to 12 months of past due mortgage payments and property taxes for eligible homeowners.
2020 VHFA Annual Report recaps a year like no other
As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded worldwide, VHFA focused on the shifting needs of Vermonters and stayed the course with long-standing tools and programs. In March, the agency swiftly found ways to support non-profit partners as well as to pivot to fully remote work.
Vermont home prices continued increasing through September 2020
The median price of a non-vacation home in Vermont rose to $244,000, according to Vermont property transfer tax records for homes sold through September 30, 2020. While the 7% increase from 2019 may reflect increased demand from the pandemic’s “race for space,” Vermont is no stranger to rising home prices which have increased steadily since 2014.
Vermont COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance applications accepted through November 6
November 6, 2020 will be the last day for Vermont homeowners behind on their mortgage payments due to COVID to submit applications for mortgage assistance grants. Funded by the federal CARES Act, Vermont Mortgage Assistance grants for up to 6 months of missed payments are available to any homeowner who meets eligibility criteria, even if they have already arranged a forbearance agreement.