Nancy’s vision is an inspiration to all who serve seniors in Vermont and elsewhere with the respect, dignity, and care they deserve.

LeadingAge is an association of 5,600 not-for-profit organizations dedicated to expanding the world of possibilities for aging. They advance policies, promote practices and conduct research that supports, enables and empowers people to live fully as they age.

DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 15, 2011

Individual homeowners, renters, businesses, or others who suffered losses as a result of flooding at the end of August are eligible for assistance to repair homes or to recover other losses. Even if the damage is minor, or if you are unsure whether damage will be covered by federal grants, individuals should apply ASAP. The deadline for applying for both FEMA and SBA assistance is November 15, 2011.

If you are a resident with storm damage who has not yet registered with FEMA and SBA, please call 800-621-FEMA (3362). Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585 directly, or 800-621-3362, if using 711 or Video Relay Service. Registration can also be done online anytime at www.disasterassistance.gov or through web-enables mobile phone devices or smartphones at m.fema.gov

Three disaster recovery centers are open from 9:00AM until 5:00PM, Monday through Saturday, in the following locations:

• Rutland Heart Center: 1 Commons Street, Rutland, VT05701
• Dover Town Hall: 120 Taft Brook Road, Dover, VT 05341
• Waterbury Fire Department: 43 South Main Street, Waterbury, VT 05676

Full Information

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11 Locations where Vermonters can get help with DISASTER LOAN APPLICATIONS

Full Press Release

“If you don’t complete the loan application, then FEMA can’t even consider you for several types of grants—money that is not a loan and does not have to be repaid,” said FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer James N. Russo. “You are never required to take a loan. If you want to do the best you can to ensure you receive all available assistance from FEMA, you must return that SBA application. That’s why we’re now offering help at 11 locations around Vermont.”

WHERE TO GET IN-PERSON HELP COMPLETING YOUR SBA LOAN APPLICATION:

VERMONT NEIGHBORWORKS® HOME OWNERSHIP CENTERS

• Champlain Housing Trust, 88 King Street, Burlington, VT 05401 - Tel.: 802-862-6244 - Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Champlain Housing Trust, Franklin/Grand Isle, 13 Lake Street, St. Albans, VT 05478 - Tel.: 802-527-2361 - Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Gilman Housing Trust, 48 Elm Street, Lyndonville, VT  05851 - Tel.: 802-535-3555 - Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
• Windham and Windsor Housing Trust, 68 Birge Street, Brattleboro, VT 05301 - Tel.: 802-254-4604 - Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri., 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Windham and Windsor Housing Trust—Satellite Office, 90 Main Street, Springfield, VT 050156 - Tel.: 802-885-3220 - Mon.-Thurs., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Fri., 8:30-3:30
• Central Vermont Community Land Trust, 107 North Main Street, Barre, VT  05641 - Tel.: 802-476-4493 - Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4 p.m.
• NeighborWorks of Western Vermont, 110 Marble St., West Rutland, VT 05777 - Tel. 802-438-2303 - Mon.-Thurs., 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Fri., 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
• Rutland County Housing Coalition, 46 Evelyn St., #201, Rutland, VT 05701 – Tel.: 802-775-9286 - Mon.-Thurs., 8:30-4:30 a.m., Fri., 8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

SBA DISASTER LOAN OUTREACH CENTERS

• Brattleboro Development Credit, 72 Cotton Mill Hill-2^nd Floor, Brattleboro, VT  05301 - Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Town of Hartford Building, 171 Bridge Street, White River Junction, VT 05001 - Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Springfield Development Corp., 14 Clinton Street, Springfield, VT 15156 - Mon. – Sat., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Vermont residents should apply for assistance to help recover from damage inflicted by Tropical Storm Irene as soon as possible. Some types of assistance have fixed deadlines that are fast approaching while others will simply be available on a first come first serve basis.

1. FEMA

Individuals, municipalities, non-profit organizations and small businesses suffering damage from Irene should contact FEMA as soon as possible. You must register with FEMA no matter what you believe the extent of your personal damage is. With flooding, problems like mold can appear years later and be very detrimental for homes.

Register by calling toll-free 800-621-FEMA (3362), on line at www.disasterassistance.gov or via a web-enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Multilingual registration assistance is available if needed. Those with a speech disability or hearing loss who use a TTY can call 800-462-7585 directly; or 800-621-3362 if using 711 or Video Relay Service. Those who have questions about disaster assistance can call 800-621-3362 and select the “help” option.

The deadline for applying for organizations applying for infrastructure assistance through FEMA is October 17th.   Download a copy of FEMA’s Request for Public Assistance form.

For individuals, the deadline for applying for FEMA assistance is October 30th.  Read FEMA’s Fact Sheet for Public Assistance and Private Non-Profits

2. Vermont 2-1-1

Simply dial “211” to reach this referral service available to all Vermonters to help direct callers to the best source of information or assistance needed. Calling 2-1-1 is not the same as calling FEMA, however, so please call both if you are in need due to Tropical Storm Irene.

3. U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)

SBA is offering low-interest rate loans for repair of Vermont homes and business damaged by the storm. However, applicants must first register with FEMA to obtain a FEMA Registration ID Number before submitting their SBA application. The deadline for applying for SBA loans is October 31st.  Find out how to apply for an SBA loan.

4. Vermont Association of Realtors

The Vermont Association of REALTORS® (VAR) has partnered with the National Association of REALTORS® REALTOR® Relief Fund (RRF) to bring disaster housing assistance to those affected by Tropical Storm Irene.   Read more about applying for this assistance.

5. Volunteer services from Vermont architects

The Vermont chapter of the American Institute of Architects has assembled a list of members who are individually volunteering pro-bono services to victims of tropical storm Irene.  Read more.

6. Housing vacancies and other resources

Shortly after the storm, Vermont Housing Finance Agency created a portal designed to help residents who need to relocate their home, either temporarily or in the longer run, due to Tropical Storm Irene. This portal includes vacancies from the Vermont Directory of Affordable Rental Housing in buildings subsidized through public programs. Even though these units are usually targeted at lower income households, many are temporarily available to households displaced by Tropical Storm Irene, regardless of income.
Go to the Vermont Housing Vacancy Portal

Friday, December 2, 2011

8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Sheraton Needham Hotel, Needham, MA

Featured Speakers:

• Xavier de Sousa Briggs, Associate Professor of Sociology and Urban Planning, MIT (Formerly, Associate Director, White House Office of Management and Budget)
• Barbara Burnham, Director of Federal Policy, LISCSheila Crowley, President, National Low Income Housing Coalition
• Barbara Fields, New England Regional Administrator, HUDEthan Handelman, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, National Housing Conference
• Margaret Salazar, Senior Housing Program Specialist, HUD
• Barbara Sard, Vice President for Housing Policy, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities(Additional National Speakers to be Announced)

Workshops:

• Housing Finace Reform and Tax Credit Changes
• Impact of Federal Budget Cuts
• Section 8: Creative Approaches with Limited Resources
• The New Reality for Public HousingSustainable Communities
• Housing Counseling: Best Practices and Future Plans

New England Housing Network Lead Agencies:

• Connecticut Housing Coalition
• Citizen’s Housing & Planning Association, MA
• Maine Affordable Housing Coalition
• Housing Action New Hampshire
• Housing Action Coalition of Rhode Island
• Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition

To register and obtain the conference brochure, click here

To register online, click here

Save the Date & Conference Announcement

Air sealing is one of three steps the owners of the 336-unit affordable housing complex have undertaken this year to enhance energy efficiency and shrink heating bills for residents.

By winter, families in 60 units will have beefed up insulation in their attics and basements, air-tight rooms and new high efficiency boilers. These changes are expected to save residents at least 25 percent on their heating bills, said Kathleen Tyrrell Luce, vice president of Maloney Properties Inc., which manages the apartment complex.

“We intend to set Vermont on a path to attain 90 percent of its energy from renewable sources by mid-century.” Currently, only 23 percent of the energy Vermonters use for electricity, for heat and for transportation comes from renewable sources.

The broad strategies to achieve the goal would include:

• - Enhanced efficiency.
• - Greater use of clean, renewable energy sources for electricity, heating and transportation.
• - Electric vehicle adoption.
• - Use of natural gas and biofuel blends where nonrenewable fuels remain necessary.

Public Comments:

Vermonters have opportunities in the coming weeks to comment on this challenge to give up fossil fuels and the strategies proposed to achieve it. Several hearings have already been held and two more are scheduled next week. The Department of Public Service also will accept comments by email, mail and online through Oct. 10.

Full Burlington Free Press Article or Click Here for PDF of Article