VHFA News

By:
Leslie Black-Plumeau

To help re-house Vermonters in living quarters rendered unsafe by COVID-19, owners and managers of Vermont's subsidized apartments are encouraged to list all vacancies on the Vermont Housing Data website. In addition to Vermonters who find themselves in need of rental housing, HUD and FEMA both use this vacancy list to coordinate disaster recovery.

On Tuesday, April 7, 2020, Governor Phil Scott submitted a request for federal disaster declaration for the state of Vermont. The declaration will allow the state to receive federal assistance for responding to the COVID-19 disaster and provide flexibility from specific federal requirements to help those experiencing heightened risk due to the outbreak. All other New England states and the vast majority of states across the country have already received federal COVID-19 disaster declarations.

After Vermont receives the federal declaration, eligibility requirements for many publicly-subsidized apartments will be temporarily loosened so that vacant units can be used most effectively during the disaster to house those displaced from their prior living quarters by the emergency.

If you need an affordable apartment or know someone who does, learn more about particular homes for rent by visiting the vacancy list on the Vermont Housing Data website.

After vacancies are filled, owners and managers are encouraged to remove the vacancy from the Vermont Housing Data website so the list remains an accurate snapshot of available units.

If you have questions about the Vermont Housing Data website’s rental vacancy list, please contact VHFA's Robin Castine.