Burlington, VT – NeighborWorks America has made a $200,000 grant to five regional housing organizations to support their Tropical Storm Irene recovery efforts. This grant is in addition to $100,000 made available immediately following the storm. The funding is going to chartered members of NeighborWorks working together as the NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont:

• Central Vermont Community Land Trust
• Champlain Housing Trust
• Gilman Housing Trust
• NeighborWorks of Western Vermont
• Windham & Windsor Housing Trust

The organizations, through their HomeOwnership Centers, have been offering housing-related counseling and affordable loans to those in need in the immediate aftermath of the storm, and the organizations have also received waivers to make their rental housing available regardless of income to those who were in need of a place to live due to displacement from Irene. Now these five organizations are engaged in the community development and housing needs of communities devastated by the storm.

“We are so thankful for this support as we continue to collaborate with our peers across the State to respond to challenges we’re facing after Irene,” said Brenda Torpy, the Housing Trust’s CEO. “We look forward to doing all we can to support the recovery efforts underway, as well as ones to come.”

“NeighborWorks America understands that the recovery from Tropical Storm Irene will take a concerted, long-term effort by organizations like these working on the ground in communities across the state,” explained Robert Burns, Field Operations Director for NeighborWorks. “This grant provides immediate funding to assist these five organizations serve the people and communities affected by the storm and insures that each of these outstanding NeighborWorks organizations can broaden the ability to serve during this time of great need.”

About NeighborWorks America

NeighborWorks America creates opportunities for people to improve their lives and strengthen their communities by providing access to homeownership and to safe and affordable rental housing. In the last five years, NeighborWorks organizations have generated $20 billion in reinvestment in these communities. NeighborWorks America is the nation’s leading trainer of community development and affordable housing professionals.

Chris Donnelly

Director of Community Relations

Champlain Housing Trust

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The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is pleased to announce a new grant program, the Rural Senior Housing (RSH) Fund. Eligible affordable housing organizations can apply for RSH grants to support activities that will build, preserve, or advocate for housing for low-income seniors (62 and older) living in rural areas. This new program is made possible through the generous support of The Atlantic Philanthropies.

Applications are due to HAC no later than Thursday, December 15, 2011.
To access the application and for additional information, Click Here. (Word file)

If you have any questions about the application or the RSH FUND, please contact Janice Clark, 202.842.8600 x 131 or email Janice@ruralhome.org.

Note. Look for an announcement in October for a webinar training to answer questions about the application.

“The US Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded $450,000 to two Vermont organizations to educate the public and combat housing and lending discrimination in the state, one to Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity for $125,000 and the other to Vermont Legal Aid Inc of $325,000. Nationally, HUD awarded more than $40.8 million to 108 fair housing organizations and non-profit agencies in 36 states and the District of Columbia.  This year’s award represents a $13.2 million increase over last year’s award and includes $10 million to fund activities that address lending discrimination, including mortgage rescue scams.

“The record increase in support to local fair housing and community organizations demonstrates the Obama Administration’s firm commitment to ending housing discrimination and providing help to families victimized by mortgage scams,” stated HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

“Ending housing discrimination takes more than the efforts of Washington,” said John Trasvina, HUD’s Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing & Equal Opportunity.  “These grants enable community groups all over the nation to help HUD enforce the Fair Housing Act, make the public more aware of their fair housing rights and ensure that housing providers understand their responsibilities under the law.”

The grants announced today are funded through HUD’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) and will be used to investigate allegations of housing discrimination, educate the public and the housing industry about their rights and responsibilities under the Fair Housing Act, and work to promote equal housing opportunities…”

Full Story: HUD awards $450,000 to two Vermont organizations

PDF of Story: HUD awards $450,000 to two Vermont organizations

• Central Vermont Community Land Trust
• CVOEO Mobile Home Project
• Champlain Housing Trust
• Lamoille Housing Partnership
• NeighborWorks of Western Vermont
• Rockingham Area Community Land Trust
• Windham Housing Trust 

The funding is part of a $1,440,300 HUD grant to Boston-based Citizens Housing and Planning Association (CHAPA).  The Central Vermont Community Action Council and Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council also received $76,883 in direct funding from HUD for homeownership, foreclosure prevention and tenant counseling. 

“HUD-approved housing counseling agencies are a critical part of the nation’s housing recovery,” said HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.  “This critical funding will help counseling organizations continue to assist families in making more informed choices before they purchase a home and counsel families facing foreclosure.” 

CHAPA received full funding for its application on behalf of the New England Housing Network.  The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition is the state’s lead agency for the Network and helps provide technical assistance to the Vermont grantees.  The Obama Administration awarded nearly $73 million in housing counseling grants to more than 500 national, regional and local organizations, a 22% increase over last year’s funding level. 

You can read HUD’s press release here: http://tinyurl.com/24roqt7.