Blog

Here you'll find the latest information about what's happening at our member organizations, opportunities in the community, and the latest news from the Legislature. Also VAHC Staff share their thoughts about the housing crisis in Vermont.

David Martins

Mar 30, 2021
3 min

Issue Spotlight: Vermont Home Prices Soar, Squeezing Workers Vermonters Out

The rapidly rising price of homes in Vermont is a worrying trend. Strikingly, sales of $1 million homes in Vermont nearly tripled in the last year. Home prices overall rose 6.9% statewide from 2019, with most of the growth in prices occurring during the second half of the year, according to Vermont Property Transfer Tax records. Burlington, in particular, is experiencing a housing boom—from January to early March, Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty reported a 17.6% i

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Down Payment Assistance Is A Sound Investment For Vermont

David Martins

Apr 15, 2015
2 min

Down Payment Assistance Is A Sound Investment For Vermont

In recent years, the high cost of rent is putting a severe financial burden on many Vermonters. Homeownership rates are going down because many cannot afford to focus on saving to purchase a home while also paying for necessities such as rent, utilities, and in the case of many young adults, student loan debt. Given that homeownership brings many benefits to both consumers and communities, organizations like the Vermont Housing Finance Agency are working hard to ensure that w

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Why Aren't Vermont Millennials Buying Homes?

David Martins

Nov 24, 2014
2 min

Why Aren't Vermont Millennials Buying Homes?

At last week’s Vermont Statewide Housing Conference John Pelletier of Champlain College and Anthony Poore of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston presented at a workshop titled “Homeownership’s Lost Generation.” Vermont Public Radio reported on what they had to say about why fewer of Vermont’s millennials are buying homes: Vermonters in the millennial generation are often seen as a success story in a state that has struggled to attract and retain young people. But cultural and

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VHFA to offer down payment and closing cost assistance for Vermonters

David Martins

Apr 1, 2013
1 min

VHFA to offer down payment and closing cost assistance for Vermonters

By Seth Leonard. Reposted from Housing Matters, March 29, 2013. “Housing Matters is pleased to announce that beginning Monday, April 1st 2013, VHFA will offer down payment and closing assistance grants. The grants will be available through the MOVE ASSIST program and to borrowers who qualify for a VHFA first mortgage insured by USDA Rural Development or the Veterans Association. ‘These grants will enable qualified low-to-moderate income Vermonters to clear one of the most d

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David Martins

Jan 8, 2013
3 min

Gov. Shumlin outlines administration changes

Reposted from January 3rd, 2013 Press Release. Contact: Susan Allen, 802-279-8493. On January 3, 2013, Governor Peter Shumlin issued a press release detailing upcoming changes to his administration, specifically the reestablishment of the Department of Economic Development. Furthermore, former state Representative Lucy Leriche has been named Deputy Sercretary of Commerce and Community Development. Leriche’s leadership experience as well as her background in housing developme

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David Martins

Dec 27, 2012
1 min

Early registration open for NLIHC Housing Policy Conference

Early registration for the National Low-Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) Housing Policy Conference & Lobby Day is now open. The conference will be held March 17-20, 2013 in Washington, D.C. Early registration, and discounted registration fee, closes January 24, 2013. Vist conference website to learn more. Click here to register. #HousingEvents #NLIHC #AffordableHousing #Homeownership #HousingCreationandPreservation #Housing #Conferences #HousingMarket #HousingAgencyandNonprof

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David Martins

Dec 20, 2012
3 min

In case you missed it: Providing the security of a home

By Brenda Torpy, CEO of Champlain Housing Trust. Reposted from the Burlington Free Press, November 22, 2012. “Snow is in the air. It’s the season when we really focus on the warmth of home. It’s time to prepare the house for winter, and also the time when we look forward to the warmth of friends and family and holiday traditions. At Champlain Housing Trust we focus year-round on providing the comfort and security of a good home for all who seek our help. That can be a firs

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David Martins

Dec 19, 2012
1 min

Housing Challenges in Rural Communities

Reposted from the National Low-Income Housing Coalition‘s Memo to Members, December 7, 2012. “A new report from the Housing Assistance Council (HAC) examines the housing crisis in rural America. Despite enjoying generally lower housing costs, an increasing number of rural households struggle with poverty. Rural poverty rates exceed comparable national rates across all racial and ethnic groups. These poor households also struggle with housing affordability; the number of hous

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David Martins

Oct 15, 2012
1 min

2012 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference – register today!

Vermont’s largest housing event is coming to the Hilton Burlington on Thursday, November 15! Keynote Speaker: Xavier de Sousa Briggs, Associate Professor of Sociology & Urban Planning at MIT, former Associate Director of the Office of Management & Budget Join colleagues from all over the state and region for Vermont’s biennial gathering of housing professionals. The conference provides a unique opportunity to meet and discuss housing advocacy, policy, financing, development a

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Early-bird Registration fee for Vermont Statewide Housing Conference

David Martins

Oct 11, 2012
1 min

Early-bird Registration fee for Vermont Statewide Housing Conference

#VT #BTV #Homeownership #HousingCreationandPreservation #Housing #Conferences #HousingMarket #HousingAgencyandNonprofitNews #VHFA

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David Martins

Sep 14, 2012
1 min

Proposed Vermont Fire and Building Safety Code – 2012 Public Hearing Schedule

Location: Division of Fire Safety – Rutland Regional Office 24 Howe Street – Rutland, VT Date: Friday – September 21, 2012 Time: 1 PM Location: Division of Fire Safety – Berlin Central Office 1311 U.S. Route 302, Suite 600 – Berlin, VT Date: Monday – September 24, 2012 Time: 9 AM Deadline for written comment submittal is October 1, 2012. Written comments can be sent to Bob Patterson at Vermont Division of Fire Safety – 1311 U.S. Route 302 – Barre, VT 05641, or ema

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David Martins

Sep 14, 2012
1 min

Senator Bernie Sanders Recognized by National Housing Group

By Chris Donnelly, Champlain Housing Trust & Jessica Grant, National CLT Network, September 11, 2012 Burlington, Vermont – “The National Community Land Trust Network recognized US Senator Bernie Sanders with the Swann Matthei Award Tuesday on the opening day of its 2012 national conference in Burlington, Vermont. The Swann Matthei Award was named for two individuals who helped to lay the foundation for the development of community land trusts in the United States: Bob Swann a

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Seven Days Article: The Other Bed Down: Will New Campus Housing Fix Burlington's Rental Problem

David Martins

Aug 2, 2012
1 min

Seven Days Article: The Other Bed Down: Will New Campus Housing Fix Burlington's Rental Problem

#HousingEvents #FairHousing #VT #Homeownership #RentalHousing #HousingCreationandPreservation #Housing #HousingHealthandSafety #HousingMarket

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David Martins

Aug 2, 2012
1 min

Housing Division Rules Public Hearing: August 21, 2012

The Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development will hold a public hearing on August 21, 2012 at 9:30 AM in the Calvin Coolidge room, 1 National Life Drive, 6th Floor, Montpelier to hear comments on the Proposed Housing Division Rules. The deadline for written comments is September 20, 2012. Written comments may be submitted by email, or by mail addressed to: Arthur Hamlin, Housing Program Coordinator Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development

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David Martins

Aug 2, 2012
1 min

Vermont's CDBG Disaster Recovery Action Plan submitted to HUD

Vermont’s CDBG Disaster Recovery Action Plan was submitted to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on July 20, 2012. The Action Plan was submitted by The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) in response to the Federal Register Notice, released on April 16, 2012, making Vermont eligible to receive $21,660,211 in HUD Disaster Recovery funding. HUD has 45 days from the date submitted to review and approve the Action Plan

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David Martins

Jul 24, 2012
2 min

Re-Envisioning the General Assistance Housing Program: Open Meeting for Stakeholder Input

Re-posted from the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness & the Agency of Human Services The Vermont Department for Children and Families extends an open invitation to participate in a statewide meeting regarding the General Assistance Housing Program. Additional information about the stakeholder input process is posted on the DCF website athttp://dcf.vermont.gov/GA_Housing. On the website there is a link to a videotaped message from Commissioner Dave Yacovone about DCF’s c

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Burlington Free Press: Court: Tenants must get notice on water shutoffs

David Martins

Jul 19, 2012
1 min

Burlington Free Press: Court: Tenants must get notice on water shutoffs

#Homelessness #VT #Homeownership #Poverty #BurlingtonFreePress #RentalHousing #AdvocacyandPolicy #Housing #HousingHealthandSafety

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David Martins

Jul 12, 2012
1 min

Vermont 5-Year Plan Feedback Needed

Your feedback is important! The Vermont 5-Year Plan to End Homelessness Committee created and each voted on the top goals and strategies in the attached draft plan. The draft plan was presented to the VT Council on Homelessness at the June 28th meeting. Please review the plan and provide all general comments in writing to Maura Collins atMCollins@vhfa.org<mailto:MCollins@vhfa.org> before Tuesday, July 24th. http://www.vtaffordablehousing.org/documents/resources/811_Draft_O

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David Martins

Jul 12, 2012
1 min

Job Posting: Vermont Center For Independent Living, Peer Advocate Counselor

Vermont Center for Independent Living, a statewide disability rights organization, is currently seeking a candidate for the following position: Peer Advocate Counselor Full/part time position in our Burlington office. Must have personal experience with disabilities. The PAC will work with individuals and groups of people with disabilities to empower them and increase their ability to live independently as full and equal citizens in the community. The PAC will also particip

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David Martins

Jun 29, 2012
1 min

VCDA Presents a Community Tour: Hardwick, A Success Story – July 19, 2012

The Vermont Community Development Association (VCDA) Presents a Community Tour: Hardwick a Success Story! Thursday, July 19, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Join VCDA on a tour to see why Hardwick has become a Vermont “Success Story”! Please find the complete registration packet attached for your review. Please RSVP by July 12 using the attached registration form. Let us know if you have any questions. Jessica Hill, Manager of Human Resources and Administration On behalf of the Vermo

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