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

Jul 27, 2016
1 min

HOP 2017 Summary of Awards Released

The summary of Housing Opportunity Program 2017 awards is now available on the Office of Economic Opportunity’s website: http://dcf.vermont.gov/sites/dcf/files/OEO/Docs/HOP-Grants-SFY2017.pdf The detailed summary includes a listing of all grantees & award amounts, a description of services provided, a chart showing how funds were allocated across the different strategies, and performance measurement standards. The Office of Economic Opportunity awarded over $5.9 million to 3

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David Martins

Sep 24, 2015
1 min

Job Opportunity: Office of Economic Opportunity Community Services Program Administrator

The Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity seeks a skilled and knowledgeable program administrator to work with community action agencies, homeless shelter/service providers, and the homeless Continuums of Care to identify and promote effective practices through partnership, grants management, training and technical assistance. The Office of Economic Opportunity is a division of the Department for Children and Families and based in Essex Junction. Office location is anticip

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David Martins

Jul 2, 2015
2 min

OEO Awards Housing & Opportunity Grants 10 40 Non-Profits

The Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) — part of the Department for Children and Families (DCF) — announced today that more than $4.6 million in federal and state funding was awarded to 40 non-profits across Vermont through the Housing & Opportunity Grant Program. These funds will be used to: Provide emergency shelter and services; Operate transitional housing; Rapidly re-house homeless families and individuals into permanent housing; and Prevent individuals and fa

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David Martins

Mar 18, 2015
3 min

The Unique Challenges Facing Vermont's Homeless Population

Yesterday VPR spoke with Paul Dragon, director of the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity, to discuss some of the challenges that arise for those who face homelessness in a rural state like Vermont. Barriers such as limited transportation options, low housing availability, and extremely cold winters add extra challenges for the homeless and those who are working to help them. Read some of the information he provided below and for the full report, including audio, click her

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David Martins

Feb 2, 2015
2 min

Homeless Children On the Rise in VT Schools

Below is in an excerpt of an article published in the Rutland Herald discussing the increase in homeless children throughout the state of Vermont: While the recession is officially over, many of its effects continue to be felt in Vermont, where rates of homeless families continue to rise. For children of homeless families, continuing their K-12 educations can be an extraordinary challenge as they sometimes face long commutes while struggling with a chaotic life outside school

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Join OEO for Shining a Light on Poverty Series #11 on November 20th

David Martins

Nov 6, 2014
1 min

Join OEO for Shining a Light on Poverty Series #11 on November 20th

On November 20th from 12:00PM – 1:00PM the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity will continue on with their year-long series of discussions about poverty. For this month, the theme of the discussion is titled “Behavioral Economics & Poverty” and features guest speakers Matthew Darling, senior associate and behavioral design expert at ideas42, a behavioral design lab in New York City that applies cutting-edge behavioral insights to solving complex social problems & Dan Conno

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Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Vermont Annual Report – State Fiscal Year 2014

David Martins

Sep 9, 2014
1 min

Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) Vermont Annual Report – State Fiscal Year 2014

The 2014 Year End Report for the Emergency Solutions Grant program is now available. Vermont’s Emergency Solutions Grants program, administered by the Vermont State Office of Economic Opportunity, provides a blend of state and federal (HUD) funding to support operations, staffing and homelessness prevention and re-housing assistance at approximately 40 non-profit emergency shelter, transitional housing and prevention programs serving all regions of the state. The State Office

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Join OEO for Shining a Light on Poverty Series #8 with Anthony Poore on August 28th

David Martins

Aug 18, 2014
1 min

Join OEO for Shining a Light on Poverty Series #8 with Anthony Poore on August 28th

On August 28th from 10:00AM – 11:00AM the Vermont Office of Economic Opportunity will continue on with their year-long series of discussions about poverty. For this month the theme of the discussion is titled “Universal Children’s Savings Accounts: New England Takes the Lead” and features guest speaker Anthony Poore from the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. Powerful research shows that savings accounts can impact the lives of low income children in many ways such as: Savings

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David Martins

Jul 10, 2014
1 min

OEO's Shining a Light on Poverty Series: Discussion on Building Financial Security for Your Cli

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The seventh of these discussions will feature Kori Hattemer, Program Manager for the Corporation for Enterprise Development (CFED). The focus of this month’s discussion will be on how to better build financial security for clients. Kori Hattemer is one of the leads at CFED working on the national front to suppor

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David Martins

Jun 18, 2014
2 min

OEO's Shining a Light on Poverty Series Continues on June 26 with Marissa Parisi

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The sixth of these discussions will feature Marissa Parisi, Executive Director, Hunger Free Vermont, and will take place on Thursday, June 26 from 10am to 11am. Reserve your Webinar seat now here. Space is limited! More about the event from OEO: Topic: Ending the Injustice of Hunger and Malnutrition in Vermont w

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David Martins

May 14, 2014
2 min

OEO's Shining a Light on Poverty Series Continues on May 29 with Vermont Food Bank's John

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The fifth of these discussions will feature John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank, and will take place on Thursday, May 29 from Noon to 1pm. More details from OEO: Shining a Light on Poverty #5: Do you have enough to eat? How we feed our neighbors in need. Guest Speaker: John Sayles, CEO, Vermont Foodbank John wil

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David Martins

Apr 17, 2014
1 min

Shining a Light on Poverty Series – Discussion #4: Feet on the Street Housing Retention

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The fourth of these discussions is entitled Feet on the Street Housing Retention. One way of getting to know the folks we all claim we know who live within some definition of poverty. Potential keys to being truly valued and recognized may be hidden in their stories. Guest Speaker Dr. Michael Ohler, educator & so

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David Martins

Mar 20, 2014
1 min

Shining a Light on Poverty Series – Discussion #3 with Sam Tsemberis

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The third of these discussions will feature Dr. Sam Tsemberis, Founder & CEO of Pathways to Housing, and will take place on Thursday, March 27 from 10am to 11am. More details from OEO: Participants will learn about the Pathways Housing First Program — an effective approach that ends homelessness, improves the qu

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David Martins

Feb 11, 2014
1 min

Shining a Light on Poverty Event on February 27

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity is hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The next of these discussions is entitled The War on Poverty: Large Positive Impact, But More Work Remains, and will take place on February 27, 2014. The event will feature Center on Budget and Policy Priorities‘ Danilo Trisi. Danilo will provide an assessment of poverty trends over the last 50 years, focusing o

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OEO's Lynne Munzberg Retirement Celebration on February 21

David Martins

Feb 6, 2014
1 min

OEO's Lynne Munzberg Retirement Celebration on February 21

The Office of Economic Opportunity’s Lynne Munzberg is retiring at the end of February. To honor her outstanding years of service, there will be a celebration at Central Vermont Community Action in Barre on Friday, February 21, 2014. Please send your RSVP to Paul Dragon at paul.dragon@state.vt.us. #OEO

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David Martins

Jan 28, 2014
2 min

Emergency Solutions Grant Program: Survey to Inform Annual Plan

The Vermont Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program, administered by the State Office of Economic Opportunity, provides a blend of state and federal (HUD) funding in all regions of the state for homeless shelters as well as non-profit programs engaged in work to prevent homelessness. The purpose of the federal Emergency Solutions Grant program is to help individuals and families quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness

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David Martins

Dec 30, 2013
1 min

Shining a Light on Poverty: Monthly Discussions to Take Place in 2014

In honor of 50 years of community action in Vermont, the Office of Economic Opportunity, Department for Children and Families will be hosting a series of one-hour discussions on poverty every month in 2014. The discussion series will take place on the following dates, be sure to mark your calendar: January 30, February 27, & March 27 April 24, May 29, & June 26 July 31, August 28, & September 25 October 30, November 20, & December 18 Further details, including time and locat

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David Martins

Oct 16, 2013
1 min

Ending Poverty in Vermont: Working Together for Our Communities

The State Office of Economic Opportunity will be hosting a training forum on April 11th, 2014 at the Lake Morey Inn in Fairlee, VT for OEO grantees. The goal of the forum, entitled Ending Poverty in Vermont: Working Together for Our Communities, will be to: increase our understanding of the complex and interconnected issues contributing to poverty build expertise in alleviating poverty on an individual and community level and; foster a stronger anti-poverty learning communit

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David Martins

Jul 12, 2013
1 min

OEO Training Forum Friday, April 11th 2014

The Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) is setting up its first statewide anti-poverty training for the Community Action Programs including weatherization and Housing (ESG) grantees for Friday, April 11th 2014. An advisory committee comprised of state staff and community partners is working on this training. They have set up a website (in progress) so you can monitor progress and provide them with feedback. Link to the website. You can return to this website over the follo

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David Martins

Apr 24, 2013
1 min

Overview & Notice of SFY 2014 Emergency Solutions Grant Funding

Attention ESG Grantees – Please find attached the Funding Overview & Announcement for the 2014 Emergency Solutions Grant. Applications are due no later than 4:00pm on Friday, May 17, 2013 by email (preferred) or mail. The attached PDF contains the full announcement – overview, application, appendices and State of Vt standard attachments C & F; the word document includes only the application. View PDF of ESG Funding Overview Announcement Please contact Sarah Phillips, Communi

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