The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Boston is coming to Burlington to host a training on the Affordable Housing Program on June 26th. This training is important for any developer or lender who is planning to apply for AHP funds in 2018 or in the future. It will be held at Hotel Vermont (41 Cherry Street, Burlington) from 8:30 to noon. For more details and to register go to their website.
Events
VHFA recognized at 2018 NERSC conference
VHFA has been recognized by the New England Resident Service Coordinators (NERSC) for its efforts to support excellence in training and education for Residence Service Coordinators. Resident Service Coordinators offer care and social services for the residents assisted housing, many of whom are elderly or disabled.
The honor was received during the NERSC 20 year anniversary conference and celebration in Newport, Rhode Island on May 2nd through 4th. Sam Falzone, VHFA’s recently retired Director of Multifamily Programs, accepted the plaque on behalf of VHFA in recognition of his many years of service to NERSC. The conference was also attended by VHFA Multifamily Management Officer Ann-Marie Plank, who serves on the NERSC Board of Directors.
VHFA recognized by United Way for fundraising efforts
VHFA has been chosen by United Way of Northwest Vermont to receive the Affinity Award, which is given to the organization whose campaign results stand out most among their industry sector. VHFA supports the work of United Way through frequent fundraising activities and by encouraging staff to volunteer in their communities.
The Affinity Award recognizes organizations with the highest percentage of participation in their industry sector. In 2017, VHFA achieved an 83.8% staff participation rate for its campaign activities and raised nearly $12,000. Proceeds from VHFA fundraising will go towards United Way’s many initiatives to support the communities of Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties.
Save the date: Vermont Statewide Housing Conference November 14, 2018
Planning is underway for the 2018 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, held every other year. This year we will shake things up and change the focus to highlight the intersections housing has with education, community development, economic development, and health care. There will be more focus on specific municipal policy tools and case studies of communities that used those tools and what they learned. The 2016 conference drew over 400 housing professionals, including legislators, town and regional planners, advocates, developers, and bankers. Attendee evaluations from previous conferences have been consistently positive about the many opportunities to network, learn, and be inspired.
Sign up for AHP 2018 Training
Attention lenders and affordable housing developers: The 2018 AHP is coming!
The Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program 2018 funding application period opens on Monday, June 11, four weeks earlier than usual. The program awards grants and low-interest loans through member institutions to organizations promoting homeownership and rental housing for households with incomes at or below 80 percent of the area median income. Approximately $18.1 million in AHP subsidy is available. Applications are due by Thursday, August 2.
First-time home buyer testifies about importance of Vermont Down Payment Assistance Program
Yesterday, Ryan Rush-Booth, a Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) borrower who lives in Stamford, VT, testified at the State House in support of doubling VHFA’s Down Payment Assistance program funding. Rush-Booth works in IT at Southwestern VT Medical Center. When they first moved to Vermont six years ago, Ryan, his wife, and their two young children moved in with family because they could not find affordable housing.
While living with parents, Ryan and his wife saved up enough money to try to buy a home, but could only afford a recent foreclosure that needed a tremendous amount of work. Because the family needed to dedicate much of their savings toward improving the home, the down payment assistance funding provided by VHFA was a critical factor.
Hoarding: A Practical Overview
The Vermont Resident Service Coordinators (VRSC) has an event coming up! in March, David O'Leary will be speaking about hoarding intervention techniques. David is a Housing Retention Specialist with the Burlington Housing Authority who specializes in hoarding and squalor cases. He joined BHA in 2015 after two years of domestic violence advocacy at STEPS to
End Domestic Violence (Formerly Women Helping Battered Women).
Governor announces successful sale of Vermont’s first Sustainability Bonds for affordable housing
Governor Phil Scott announced Thursday the successful sale by Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) of Vermont’s first Sustainability Bonds. The bonds sale raised $37 million to fund the “Housing for All” initiative, the largest state investment in housing in several decades. Proceeds from the sale of the bonds will be awarded by the Vermont Housing Conservation Board (VHCB) for constructing and rehabilitating 550-650 homes statewide over the next two to three years. Vermont investors played a critical role in the success of the bond sale.
Community Development Advance webinar
The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advance (CDA) program offers members an excellent way to support economic development and affordable housing in their communities.
FHLB Boston offers free, one-hour webinars to help you learn more about how the CDA can help grow your business. Topics include financing options, eligibility criteria, online application navigation tips, and eligibility reporting data requirements. You can ask as many questions as you like during this live presentation, all without leaving your office.
Register now for one of the three upcoming webinars:
Open house on 1/19 and 1/20 for Swanton and Highgate residents affected by flooding
The American Red Cross will be hosting an open house in Swanton on Friday, January 19th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Saturday, January 20th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM for residents affected by the recent flooding. The events will share resources from a variety of agencies and non-profit organizations to help area residents recover and rebuild. Trained specialists will be on hand to offer personalized assistance.
The events will be held at the Swanton Village Municipal complex at 120 First Street. For questions please contact 802-868-3397.