Partner organizations

Vermonters at risk of homelessness should  call 2-1-1 to arrange for temporary housing during the extreme cold this weekend, Governor Peter Shumlin advised Friday.

The Vermont Division of Emergency Management & Homeland Security is issuing wind chill warnings for most of the state from 4 a.m. Saturday through 7 p.m. Sunday, with wind chill temperatures expected to plunge to between 25 and 40 below zero.

Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission Executive Director Charlie Baker joined area business leaders this week to discuss the region's growing  jobs-housing imbalance. Although the number of people working in Chittenden County has grown to approximately 99,800, there are 11,300 fewer employees living here than in 2002. 

Check out Baker's presentation for more information.

Yesterday Champlain Housing Trust's (CHT) Executive Director, Brenda Torpy, accepted the Renewal Award at a reception in Des Moines, Iowa. CHT's shared equity, permanently affordable homeownership program and five other innovative programs were selected during a nationwide search for cre­at­ive, grassroots solu­tions to the coun­try’s most press­ing so­cial and eco­nom­ic chal­lenges.

Recognizing the clear benefits of shared equity homeownership for low- and moderate-income Vermonters, VHFA has long supported the state's network of shared equity programs, including CHT's. 

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.

A bus from The Edge Kids & Fitness after school program brought 25 young helpers to VHFA yesterday for the Agency’s annual mitten stuffing. Aliya  (pictured) and her fellow elves got right to work in VHFA’s board room, helping to stuff 175 sets of mittens, hats and gloves with candy. VHFA will deliver the bounty this afternoon to the Sara Holbrook Center and King Street Youth Center for distribution to local kids and teens in need. 

VHFA sends out a big thanks to all of the knitters and shoppers who donated such high quality outerwear for this wonderful holiday event!

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.