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.

As the pandemic subsides, so do critical housing protections

David Martins

Jun 15, 2021
4 min

As the pandemic subsides, so do critical housing protections

As Vermont’s State of Emergency expires and the state reopens, evictions resume and the emergency housing program narrows eligibility. Vermont has hit a milestone in the fight against COVID-19, becoming the first state to vaccinate 80 percent of its eligible population. Governor Phil Scott will let the state of emergency Vermont has been under since March 13, 2020 expire later today, June 15, ending all state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions. While there is much to celebrate, t

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TAKE ACTION: Comment on Trump administration’s proposed changes to SNAP

David Martins

Sep 9, 2019
1 min

TAKE ACTION: Comment on Trump administration’s proposed changes to SNAP

Although not directly related to housing, this change will severely impact the populations served by our member organizations. Families will become even more cost-burdened without the food security provided by SNAP benefits. Even affordable housing can be out of reach for families without this critical assistance. In addition, this disastrous policy would sidestep Congress, which rejected such harmful proposals when it enacted the 2018 Farm Bill. For more information about th

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TAKE ACTION: Public Hearings on the Governor’s Budget Proposal Monday 2/25

David Martins

Feb 23, 2019
5 min

TAKE ACTION: Public Hearings on the Governor’s Budget Proposal Monday 2/25

TAKE ACTION: Public Hearings on the Governor’s Budget Proposal Monday 2/25 Four weeks ago Governor Phil Scott announced his recommended state budget for FY 2020, effectively “kicking-off” the appropriations and budget process in the Vermont House. The Vermont House and Senate Committees on Appropriations are holding regional public hearings on the Governor’s Recommended State Budget for the 2020 fiscal year. There will be hearings ALERT: $1M cut proposed to VHCB — Request ful

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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

Feb 11, 2014
2 min

Shumlin Pledges to Make Up for New Federal Cuts to Food Stamps

Last week Congress passed and President Obama signed into law a Farm Bill that reduces funding for food stamps by $8.6 billion. The cuts will represent an average $90 reduction for families receiving SNAP benefits for the 17 states impacted by the cuts (which includes Vermont). Governor Peter Shumlin has pledged to find room in the state budget to make up for the funding taken away by the federal government. More from VTDigger: The omnibus Farm Bill just passed by Congress

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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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David Martins

Jul 24, 2013
1 min

DCF unveils new emergency housing proposal

Vermont housing advocates met with officials from the Department for Children and Families yesterday to discuss revising the agency’s proposal that would limit access to emergency motel vouchers. The original plan required Vermonters who had not experienced a catastrophic event to meet 6 points on a scale of vulnerability in order to become eligible for a motel voucher. At yesterday’s meeting, DCF unveiled their new proposal which would maintain the point system, but lower

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David Martins

Jan 18, 2013
1 min

The 2013 Annual Point-in-Time count form & resources

The Vermont Statewide Point-in-Time (PIT) Count is an unduplicated count of persons experiencing homelessness in both unsheltered and sheltered (in a homeless program) places on a single night. The PIT Count allows local communities and state policy makers to understand current problems of homelessness, target limited funding to appropriate housing and services, and track progress. As stipulated in the HEARTH/McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the PIT Count also allows u

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Unlike rest of country, Vermont's median income rose in 2011

David Martins

Sep 21, 2012
1 min

Unlike rest of country, Vermont's median income rose in 2011

By: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Housing Matters, VHFA, September 20, 2012 “Vermont was the only state that showed in increase in real median income betweeen 2010 and 2011, according to estimates released today from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The median household income in Vermont was $52,776 in 2011, up 4% from $50,707 in 2012. Rising incomes helped to bring down both the percentage and number of people in poverty in Vermont. The Vermont poverty rate declined

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New State and Local Poverty Data Out Today

David Martins

Sep 21, 2012
1 min

New State and Local Poverty Data Out Today

#Housing #Poverty

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US median income fell and income inequality grew in 2011

David Martins

Sep 20, 2012
1 min

US median income fell and income inequality grew in 2011

By: Leslie Black-Plumeau, Reposted from Housing Matters, VHFA, September 14, 2012 “Estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau showed a 1.5 percent decline in median household household income in 2011 relative to the prior year. Despite this decline at the middle, income levels among the top 10 percent increased, contributing to growing income inequality nationwide…” Link to Full Article PDF of Full Article Link to Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United Sta

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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
1 min

RFP for DOC Transitional Housing Open Bid Process

Please be advised that there is a current open bid process for a Request for Proposals (RFP) from the Department of Corrections for transitional housing and supportive services. Attached is the RFP in its entirety and can also be found on: www.vermontbusinessregistry.com – Open Bids 7/23/12 Please note that proposals must be received (via mail) by August 30th at 1:30pm. No late responses will be accepted. Feel free to send this to any interested parties. Please let me k

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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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COTS is 'hobbling together the spaces' after flooding

David Martins

Jul 16, 2012
1 min

COTS is 'hobbling together the spaces' after flooding

#Homelessness #VT #Poverty #BurlingtonFreePress #DisasterRelief #Housing #HousingHealthandSafety #HousingAgencyandNonprofitNews

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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

Jul 6, 2012
1 min

COTS NEEDS YOUR HELP

As you may know, the July 4th storms and flash floods that hit Burlington and other parts of the state flooded out the Committee on Temporary Shelter’s Daystation. The damage is extensive: computers, donated clothes, tables, chairs, carpets, boxes of paperwork — everything below the 16 inch watermark has been destroyed. The Daystation will be closed for at least a month, leaving all the folks who use the Daystation daily to eat lunch, pick up mail, and use the computers and p

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