Angus Chaney is joining the office of Agency of Human Services Secretary Doug Racine to focus on an integrated approach to housing and homelessness. In his new role, Angus will focus on the development and implementation of a statewide agenda to address the issues of homelessness, the development of housing retention programs and an integrated approach to the state’s housing needs.
Partner organizations
HUD Consolidated Plan public hearing on Feb. 13
The State of Vermont’s Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development will conduct a public hearing in preparation of developing its 2012 Action Plan for the HUD Consolidated Plan for 2010-2015, to hear views about the State’s housing and community development needs, including priority non-housing community development needs and development of proposed activities, and review past performance related to its HUD Consolidated Plan.
Bridges out of poverty workshop offered on March 21, 2012
Save the date!
Bridges Out of Poverty
By Prudence Pease
Presentation: 10:00 am - 1:00 pm
Admission is FREE for Vermont Resident Service Coordinators & Vermont Housing Managers Association members. There will be a $10 materials fee. Non-Members are invited to attend for $20 (includes admission & materials).
Vermont's annual Homeless Memorial Day January 4
On January 4, 2012, the state's homeless shelters and service providers will commemorate the thousands of Vermonters who received housing and/or services this past year. A memorial vigil will be held at noon on the State House steps in Montpelier.
This event is sponsored by Vemont Coalition to End Homelessness. For more information, contact Linda Ryan at [email protected] or 802.373.6505
'Tis the season
Although we look for ways to give back to the community throughout the year, VHFA staff have stepped things up a bit during the holiday season.
The first of the agency's recent efforts was a Thanksgiving food drive for the Chittenden County Emergency Food Shelf. A total of 120 pounds of food, ranging from frozen turkeys to canned goods, was donated by the staff.
Several days later marked the annual VHFA Pie Auction, in which the culinary prowess of staff reaped proceeds of $245 for the United Way of Chittenden County.
Champlain Housing Trust wins award to help expand affordable lending program
Our friends across the street at the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) were selected as a winner of the TD Charitable Foundation’s 2011 Housing for Everyone competition, one of 25 selected nationally out of a pool of about 500 submissions.
The Housing for Everyone award comes with a $100,000 grant to advance CHT’s efforts to provide and sustain affordable housing in northwestern Vermont. The grant specifically will be dedicated to an expansion of the Champlain Housing Loan Fund, CHT’s affordable lending arm.
Eldridge highlights elderly's housing needs
According to Nancy Eldridge, Executive Director of Vermont's Cathedral Square Corporation, programs that combine funding sources and care management approaches can provide cost effective, compassionate, and sustainable housing and care for low-income elderly people.
Cathedral Square's innovative SASH program (Support and Services at Home) is just such a program, as Eldridge describes in Sunday's Burlington Free Press.
Burlington's Thayer Commons wins federal grant
A $4.8 million federal housing grant for the Burlington Thayer Commons project was announced yesterday. The grant will support the addition of 28 rent-subsidized units to the project.
VHFA is providing 4% (bond) low-income housing tax credits as well as construction financing for the project.
The location of the project on Burlington's North Avenue where the Department of Motor Vehicles once operated will offer seniors access to public transit, shopping, health care and other services.
The development includes apartments rented at market rates and affordable senior and family apartments. A total of 113 apartments are now under construction.
Your comments needed on Chittenden County ECOS housing and other reports
Reports analyzing Chittenden County's housing needs, economic development, natural resources, transportation, land use, education, public health and energy issues have been completed for the ECOS project. All communities, organizations and residents are encouraged to review and comment on these reports by December 31 through the ECOS website. VHFA prepared the housing needs report in collaboration with ECOS project partners.