The Vermont Senate has passed a bill (S.100) to enact a $35 million housing bond to spur the construction and rehabilitation of affordable housing across the State. The bill is now in the House with just a few days to go until adjournment. Recommended in Governor Scott's budget proposal, the housing bond would address a significant need for affordable housing in Vermont, help to alleviate homelessness, house the workforce, and provide expanded homeownership opportunities for Vermonters.
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Bradley House renovations celebrated in Brattleboro
VHFA supported the renovation and expansion of Bradley House in Brattleboro with the commitment of a $3.1 million construction loan and its staff was gratified to attended the project's ribbon-cutting ceremony Monday.
The development is a Level III Residential Care facility that serves seniors in need of a variety of services, and the expansion will increase the number of residents served from 28 to 35. The wonderfully elaborate building that will be renovated was built in the 1860s and an attached new wing will be added to allow this expansion. The facility is owned and run by Holton Home Inc. and is their second such property in Brattleboro.
Patenaude to be nominated for HUD Deputy Secretary spot
The White House announced today that it intends to nominate Pamela Patenaude to serve as Deputy Secretary for Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Patenaude is currently president of the J. Ronald Terwilliger Foundation for America's Families, an organization that seeks to elevate housing's place on the political agenda.
Patenaude has held a variety of housing policy positions in both the public and private sectors. She served as Director of the Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Commission and had the opportunity to hear about Vermont’s housing issues at a national hearing in Maine in 2012. She also spoke at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference in 2012.
Children's Literacy Foundation has opportunities for rental housing and other service providers
The At-Risk Children grant is open to social service providers, community centers, afterschool programs, refugee services organizations, shelters, low income housing programs, Head Start programs, early childhood education programs, and a wide range other groups throughout Vermont and New Hampshire that serve low-income or at-risk infants and children up to age 12 (or a portion of that age range).
The application deadline is May 15, 2017 for programming that will take place in the Fall of 2017.
VHFA awards millions in affordable housing tax credits for upcoming construction but rental housing proposals outweigh available credits 2 to 1
On Monday, April 17, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners committed federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) and Vermont Affordable Housing Credits that will provide almost $37 million in upfront equity to construct and renovate housing for low-income Vermonters over the next several years. The $2.5 million in ten-year federal capped credits, $610,000 in ten-year federal uncapped “bond” credits and $485,000 in five-year state credits will support the development of 272 affordable apartments in 11 communities across the state.
$35 million bond would have long-lasting benefits
Housing developers, business leaders, smart growth policy experts and poverty advocates joined together to support the passage of a $35 million housing bond this afternoon at a press conference at Vermont’s State House in Montpelier.
Recommended in Governor Scott's budget proposal, the housing bond would address a significant need for affordable housing in Vermont, help to alleviate homelessness, house the workforce, and provide expanded homeownership opportunities for Vermonters.
Burlington celebrates opening of apartments and Daystation for Vermonters facing homelessness
Governor Phil Scott joined Congressman Peter Welch, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger and many other supporters to celebrate the opening of 14 new apartments for people facing homelessness and a newly rebuilt Daystation and Housing Resource Center. The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) will oversee the apartments and operate the Daystation and Housing Resource Center, all of which are located at 95 North Avenue in Burlington’s Old North End neighborhood.
April is Fair Housing Month!
Please join VHFA and other housing leaders in celebrating April as Fair Housing Month! To honor the importance of Fair Housing activities in Vermont, all are welcome to the State House on Tuesday, April 4th where there will be information in the Card Room all day as well as fair housing experts on hand to answer questions or discuss recent initiatives. At 10 am there will be a reading of a Concurrent Resolution endorsing April as Fair Housing month.
As noted by the Champlain Office of Economic Opportunity, "April has come to be recognized and proclaimed as Fair Housing Month because the Federal Fair Housing Act was signed into law on April 11, 1968.
Vermont's housing and community development priorities proposed for upcoming year
The Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development recently published its Draft 2017 Annual Action Plan and Draft Vermont National Housing Trust Fund Allocation Plan for comment. These and other consolidated planning materials are available on ACCD's website.
A public hearing will be held April 7, 2017. Written comments will be accepted through May 8, 2017.
Business community input on permitting and regulation in Vermont needed
The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources is seeking input from the business community about their experiences with permitting and environmental regulation in Vermont. Please share your insights at one of the "listening tour" meetings the Agency is holding over the next two weeks at locations around the state.