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VHCB & Housing Vermont Fraud Prevention Training: June 14th

Posted May 11, 2012

Thursday, June 14 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.   It will be held at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Montpelier. 

This is a great opportunity for organizations to learn from an expert in the field, consider their internal controls program, and discuss the challenge with colleagues.  We recommend the participation of your financial manager, executive leader and board treasurer in this event.

To register, reply to laurie@vhcb.org  by June 1.   Include your name, title, organization, and  telephone number. Mail a check payable to “VHCB” in the amount of $20 per person attending to: 58 East State St., Montpelier, VT 05602.  

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. The Capitol Plaza Hotel  is wheelchair accessible. Please contact Laurie in advance if you require  special accommodations.

An effective and carefully considered internal control system is essential for housing development and management organizations to operate efficiently, to maintain the confidence of stakeholders and to prevent fraud.  VHCB and Housing Vermont have organized the training “Fraud and Internal Controls” to help organizations in the Vermont affordable housing network  examine their internal control systems and prevent fraud.

The training will be led by Joanne Wilson, a financial management consultant with more than 20 years experience in nonprofit accounting and financial management.  As principal of SJ Associates, Joanne specializes in financial systems analysis, developing fund accounting systems, and guiding organizations in selecting and implementing accounting software.  Joanne has led numerous trainings on financial management for NeighborWorks of America and for VHCB.

The days agenda will address:

·        The reality that fraud may occur within nonprofit organizations and areas of special concern for  housing organizations;

·        A review of internal controls to prevent fraud and improve financial management of your organization;

·        Exercises to identify weaknesses in your organization and develop  strategies to strengthen internal controls;

·        Best practices in preventing fraud.

 


NAMI VT’s Annual Conference: “Pathways to Wellness”

Posted

NAMI Vermont invites peers, providers, families of people living with mental illness and anyone interested in learning about the varied paths that people living with mental health challenges can take to live well, to its Pathways to Wellness 2012 conference. In addition to the keynote addresses highlighted below, we will offer two sets of workshops by local and regional experts.  A performance by ME2 Orchestra, a classical music ensemble created for individuals with mental health issues and the people who support them, completes the program. And don’t forget to bring your wallet for our silent auction!

Date: Friday, June 8, 2012

Location: Capitol Plaza Hotel & Conference Center, Montpelier, Vermont

Time: 8:00 AM – 4:15 PM

For more information please contact info@namivt.org

Full Flyer

 


Vergennes Senior Housing Ribbon Cutting Ceremony May 21st

Posted

Addison County Community Trust & Housing Vermont would like you to join them and a special guest, Senator Bernie Sanders (invited), for the ribbon cutting to mark the opening of Vergennes Senior Housing.

Monday, May 21st at 10:00 AM – 50 Armory Lane, Vergennes. 

 


Tony Pomerleau gives Shelburne mobile home park residents a future

Posted May 8, 2012

Burlington Free Press: Joel Banner Baird

The population of Shelburnewood Mobile Home Park is yet again holding its collective breath.

Burlington developer and philanthropist Tony Pomerleau says he’s breathing just fine: He aims to buy the property and grant its residents permanent ownership.“It’ll happen,” Pomerleau said Thursday, possibly within the year.

Shelburnewood residents greeted Pomerleau’s announcement last week with surprise and relief — flavored with caution.

For almost a decade, the 50 or so residents of Shelburnewood Mobile Home Park have faced alternating scenarios of eviction and reprieve.

Their aluminum homes sit on a portion of 20 acres of prime real estate. They’re
tucked behind Trinity Episcopal Church, within Shelburne’s village core; within
walking distance of school, shops and town offices.

Shelburnewood, in many ways, is a prototype for dense, “smart-growth” residential development.

But attempts to secure funding and town approval for low-to-mid-income housing at that site have been slow and painful.

“We’ve been down this road many times,” said Vicki Carleton, the president of the park’s residents’ association …

Link to Burlington Free Press Article

PDF of Full BFP Article

 


Pomerleau looks to buy, preserve Shelburnewood mobile home park

Posted May 7, 2012

Burlington Free Press – Joel Banner Baird

Burlington developer Tony Pomerleau said Wednesday he intends to buy

Shelburnewood mobile home park, and find ways to keep its residents living there.

The deal with the Shelburne property’s owners has not yet been finalized, but “it’s 90 percent done, and it’s going to happen,” Pomerleau told the Burlington
Free Press.

Plans to convert the mobile home park into mixed-income housing fell through in 2010 after facing stiff opposition in Shelburne’s Development Review Board.

The property lies along the village’s northeast corner. Owners Marvin and Sue Thomas, have for several years said they no longer wish to operate the park, and would like to sell, said their lawyer, Liam Murphy …

PDF of Burlington Free Press Article

Link to Burlington Free Press Article

 

 


2012 3SquaresVT Policy & Outreach Training Day

Posted April 26, 2012

Full Information - Sent by Angela Smith-Dieng, 3SquaresVT Advocacy Manager, Hunger Free Vermont (asmith.dieng@hungerfreevt.org)

Register Now

WHEN: Thursday, May 31, 2012, 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

WHERE: In the Red Schoolhouse at Vermont Technical College, Randolph, VT (1 mile from Exit 4 off I-89, directions here)

WHY: 3SquaresVT is the largest federal nutrition program and currently provides benefits to over 96,000 Vermonters. This free training will offer an opportunity to learn more about the program, hear the latest updates and changes from DCF, network with advocates from across the state, and share in focused discussions in break-out sessions.

WHO: A broad range of organizations and people are invited to attend including those from community action agencies, agencies on aging, food shelves, community meal sites, schools, health clinics, shelters, housing authorities, child care centers and more. Anyone who works with limited-income Vermonters and wants to learn more about 3SquaresVT may attend.

The day is being coordinated by Hunger Free Vermont in collaboration with the Department for Children and Families and the statewide 3SquaresVT Work Group.

REGISTER online here; there is no cost to attend. The deadline to register is Thursday, May 18. If you have any difficulties registering, contact Faye Conte at fconte@hungerfreevt.orgor 802-865-0255.

 Please join us in what we hope will be an engaging and productive day for everyone!

Share this invitation with others you know who may be interested.

 


Vermont CDBG-Disaster Recovery Funding

Posted

Re-posted from: Vermont Community Development Program – Josh Hanford, Director (josh.hanford@state.vt.us) 

Dear Interested Parties;

As many of you know, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development, Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) will receive $21,660,211 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in Community Development Block Grant- Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.  The official notice of this funding, the Federal Register Notice, was released on April 16, 2012 and is attached here.  It contains the rules, regulations and process for the DEHCD to access the funding allocated to Vermont.  DEHCD has 90 days to develop an Action Plan which identifies the unmet and long term recovery needs of the area’s most impacted and distressed as the result of declared major disasters in Vermont in 2011.  These major disasters include FEMA Disaster Declaration 1995 (April 23-May 9, 2011 flood), FEMA Disaster Declaration 4001 (May 26-27, 2011 flood), and of course FEMA Disaster Declaration 4022 (August 27- September 2, 2011 Tropical Storm Irene).  These funds will be available to help communities with the necessary expenses related to disaster relief, long-term recovery, restoration of infrastructure and housing, and economic revitalization in the most impacted and distressed areas receiving major disaster declarations.  The Federal Notice requires the state to target at least 80 percent of this funding ($17,328,169) to Washington and Windsor Counties.  DEHCD request to HUD, to expand the 80 percent targeting requirement to include Windham and Rutland Counties was denied.

The state has committed to use some portion of this allocation to help municipalities meet the 25% match for property buy-outs under the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP).  DEHCD is in the process of determining the other unmet needs and uses of the CDBG-DR funds.  DEHCD is currently soliciting input on unmet needs through surveys, input from stakeholders and partners.  It appears likely that CDBG-DR funding will be available to address the long term recovery needs of housing, economic development and infrastructure.  Specific allocations of funding for housing, economic development and infrastructure have yet to be determined.  These specifics along with proposed levels of funding for planning and project implementation will be outlined in the Draft Disaster Action Plan prepared by DEHCD.  DEHCD is targeting to have the Draft Disaster Action Plan available in late May.  Public Hearings will be made available for comments and questions on the Draft Disaster Action Plan.

The Public Hearing schedule is as follows:

  • June 5, 2012 – 11:30am – 1:30pm, Latchis Theater Studio 4 in Brattleboro, VT
  • June 7, 2012 – 3:30 – 5:30pm, Bugbee Senior Center in White River Junction, VT
  • June 12, 2012 – 5:00 – 7:00pm, Montpelier Lost Nation Theater in Montpelier VT

The Public Hearing Notice will be published in area newspapers and posting of the Draft Disaster Action Plan will be available on the following websites http://www.dhca.state.vt.us/VCDP  and http://vtstrong.vermont.gov

HUD is expected to approve Vermont’s Disaster Action Plan within 45 days of receipt.  Based on this timeline, DEHCD plans to make applications forms for CDBG-DR funding available by late August – early September.  CDBG-DR funding can only be used to address needs that can’t be met by insurance proceeds, FEMA, SBA, other state, local or federal programs and charitable funding.  Projects must address an impact related to Major Disaster Declarations within a county that received a Presidential disaster declaration in 2011.  They must also be a CDBG-eligible activity and address a national objective such as benefitting low and moderate income people or addressing an urgent need.  One of the best ways to prepare for the successful use of these funds is to pursue and document each of these other funding sources as quickly as possible.  Should you have further questions regarding CDBG-DR funding please email your question to ACCD.CDBGDisasterRecovery@state.vt.us .  

Please visit http://vtstrong.vermont.gov/ for more information on Vermont’s recovery efforts.

Federal Register Notice April 16, 2012

 


Housing Seniors in Rural America: Resources, Advocacy, & Practice

Posted

June 5-6, 2012 – Hilton Burlington Hotel – 60 Battery Street, Burlington, Vermont

Made possible with generous support from The Atlantic Philanthropies, this symposium will provide intensive training and information on housing for an aging population in rural America.

One of the most dramatic demographic shifts in U. S. history is the growth of the elderly population. Rural America has a large and growing senior population, but also often lacks housing resources and capacity. Twenty-five percent of all rural households are occupied by the elderly. Of those homes, 80 percent are homeowner rather than rental properties. In fact, almost half of the rural census tracts in the U.S. have no subsidized rental units for seniors.

Learn more about meeting these emerging needs at HAC’s symposium. Join policy makers, advocates and peers for a 2-day intensive workshop. The agenda will feature discussions on aging in place, home repair and modification, preservation of senior rental housing, issues in HUD Section 202 program, political and funding outlook for senior housing programs, strategies for advocacy and examples of successful practices. The session will also include a site visit to an outstanding senior housing development in the Burlington area.

Don’t miss this valuable opportunity to learn and share information on ways to meet the growing needs of the elderly.

Full Brochure

 


House Resolution Honoring Melinda Bussino This Friday, April 20th, 9:30AM at the Vermont State House

Posted April 18, 2012

The Vermont House of Representatives will be reading a resolution in honor of Melinda Bussino this Friday morning, April 20th at 9:30am.  Melinda’s family will be present and we hope that all that are able to come will attend. The House Resolution will be sent out next week for those that are unable to attend.

“It was with great shock and sadness that we learned of the passing of Melinda Bussino, one of our state’s best known and most effective advocates for homeless and vulnerable Vermonters, passed away after suffering from a massive heart attack.  Melinda was known for her dedicated service in many positions to Vermont’s affordable housing and homelessness community and for being a tireless activist and advocate for the homeless.  In the words of Larry Smith, president of the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center board, she was truly an “army of one.”  Melinda was an inspiration for us all.  Her passing is a tremendous loss.

For those who may not have known her well, Melinda was the founder and long time Executive Director of the Drop-In Center, as well as the Governor’s appointee on the HUD Consolidated Plan Committee and the Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness.  She was the most recent co-chair of the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness and a previous chair for the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition.  She continued to work closely with us on many important issues throughout the years.  She also served for many years as chair of the Windham Regional Commission.  In 2008, Melinda won the Housing Hero award at the biennial Vermont Statewide Housing Conference.

Melinda believed that a shelter should be more than a place to sleep; it should feel like a home for those that did not have one.  Hers was a steady, effective voice that told the story of homeless Vermonters far more powerfully than all the statistics.”

We hope to see you all on Friday at 9:30am at the State House for the reading of the resolution honoring Melinda. 

 


Highlighting the plight of homeless Vermont children

Posted April 5, 2012

According to the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS), 141 Burlington area school children were staying in temporary shelter last October–an alarming increase from five years earlier.

Although children staying in shelters may look like children with permanent housing at the beginning of the school day, they are likely to be chronically tired due to the noises associated with living in crowded temporary shelters. They are also likely to get sick more often than other children because their systems are stressed, according to Rita Markley, Executive Director of COTS.

Thanks to Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Alicia Pacelli, a COTS AmeriCorps children’s specialist who conducted several workshops on the styles and methods of master artists, the art work of area children experiencing homelessness is being shared with the community.   Throughout the month of April, Barnes & Noble’s South Burlington store at 102 Dorset Street will host an exhibit of these special pieces.

An opening reception will be held in the bookstore’s cafe this evening, April 5, at 5:30.

Posted  Apr 5, 2012 at 12:26 pm by Leslie Black-Plumeau – VHFA

 


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