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 17, 2016
1 min

DCF Says New Program Cuts Down On Homeless Motel Vouchers

This week, the Vermont Department for Children & Families released a Budget Adjustment Report on Housing and Shelter Assistance to the Vermont Legislature. To view the report, click here. Below is commentary from VPR on the report: State efforts to reduce the number of people who use motels for emergency housing have been effective, according to a report released this week by the Department for Children and Families. Last winter, the state saw a significant increase in the n

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David Martins

Mar 3, 2016
2 min

Vogel: Housing Legislation

Yesterday, VPR featured commentary from John Vogel on housing legislation: In 2014, the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development hired Bowen National Research to conduct a statewide housing needs assessment. The study concluded that Vermont has a significant housing shortage, especially for families and seniors who make less than $20,000 per year. By my calculation, at the current rate at which we’re building affordable housing, we’ll need at least 125 years to

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David Martins

Feb 3, 2016
2 min

VHFA Seeks To Extend Assistance For First-Time Home Buyers

The Vermont Housing Finance Agency is seeking to extend their down-payment assistance program, which began last August. Through this program, first-time home buyers can get up to $5,000 in down payment assistance. The zero-interest loan is then paid back when the home is sold or the mortgage is refinanced. While the program is currently funded for 3 years, an extension of the program would help build a revolving loan fund. To learn more, read the article from VPR below: The V

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David Martins

Jun 12, 2015
1 min

First-Time Homebuyers Eligible For $5,000 In Down Payment Assistance

Earlier this week, Sarah Carpenter of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency discussed their new program that will provide down-payment assistance to first time homebuyers on VPR: First-time home buyers in Vermont are getting some help with the expenses that come with buying a house. Legislation signed by Gov. Peter Shumlin last week includes up to $5,000 for closing costs and down payments. That program will be administered by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, but VHFA doesn’t

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David Martins

May 7, 2015
1 min

Latest Budget Cut Could Harm Affordable Housing Sector

This week. VPR spoke with several affordable housing advocates about Governor Shumlin’s new proposed plans for cutting the state’s budget and how they may cause damage to the affordable housing sector, including VAHC coordinator Erhard Mahnke: “The way this has been presented by the administration is that this is a cut that will really only affect middle-income people, and they have other places they can go to get energy efficiency funds to make improvement to their homes,” s

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David Martins

Apr 21, 2015
4 min

Spring Creates New Challenges For Vermont's Homeless

While there is much talk about the challenges that winter creates for Vermont’s homeless, with spring comes a new set of challenges. In this VPR report Elizabeth Ready, director of the John Graham Shelter in Vergennes, discusses some of the challenges homeless providers face once the seasons change and winter emergency shelter programs end: Although nights may not be as bitter cold, new challenges face Vermont’s homeless population now that spring has sprung. Elizabeth Ready,

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David Martins

Apr 15, 2015
2 min

New Collaboration To Provide Mental Health Services To Homeless

Vermont Public Radio reports on a collaboration between Brattleboro Retreat and Morningside Shelter that will help to provide mental health services to homeless individuals: A collaboration between a homeless shelter and a psychiatric hospital in Brattleboro has a goal of preventing a mental health crisis, and improving the mental health of the homeless population. Brattleboro Retreat and Morningside Shelter will bring a therapist to the shelter two days a week. The two non-p

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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 5, 2015
2 min

Rent-To-Own A Raw Deal For Poor People, Lawmakers Say

Yesterday VPR reported on new legislation that would cap interest on rent-to-own purchases and require stores to clearly indicate the total price that the consumer will pay after installments to own each item. Advocates argue that these businesses target low-income consumers who also often lack proper financial education. Many lawmakers also agree that it is time to impose stricter regulations to protect those who are most vulnerable: The rent-to-own industry has mushroomed i

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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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David Martins

Jun 25, 2014
1 min

Report Released on Rental Housing Discrimination in Vermont

A new report by Vermont Legal Aid shows that discrimination was evident in nearly half of the test cases. Rachel Batterson will be on tomorrow’s Vermont Edition at noon with Angela Zaikowski of the Vermont Apartment Owners Association, and Ted Wimpey, Fair Housing Project Director for Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Chair of VAHC, to discuss the report and the steps needed to be taken to reduce rental discrimination in the state. The report finds high rate

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David Martins

Dec 2, 2013
1 min

ICYMI: Program Helps Low-Income Buyers Afford Mobile Homes

Demand is growing for a year-old program that helps Vermonters who lack resources buy mobile homes, reported VPR recently. The program was developed through a partnership between Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Champlain Housing Trust, the Vermont Agency of Commerce and Community Development and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. Maura Collins of VHFA and Emily Higgins of CHT were interviewed by VPR. Read the VPR piece or learn more about the program on the Champla

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David Martins

Aug 27, 2013
1 min

ICYMI: Burned Out – Vermont's Apartment Fires

The other week Vermont Public Radio ran a series of reports concerning issues surrounding apartment building fire regulations. Ensuring apartments meet basic requirements for health and safety is a priority of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition. In particular, VAHC has a long history of working on issues concerning fire safety. Check out the reports below as VPR looks at the regulations, reconstruction and the people affected by apartment fires in Vermont. Apartment

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VPR's Vermont Edition features changes to GA housing rules

David Martins

Jul 11, 2013
1 min

VPR's Vermont Edition features changes to GA housing rules

David Yacovone, DCF Commissioner and Joshua Davis, Executive Director of Morningside Shelter in Brattleboro, were featured on Vermont Public Radio’s Vermont Edition yesterday afternoon to discuss major changes to the General Assistance Emergency Housing rules, set to go into effect next Monday, July 15. Link to the broadcast, which includes listener commentary, including VAHC Director, Erhard Mahnke. #Homelessness #VPR #VAHC #AffordableHousing #VT #AdvocacyandPolicy #Housing

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Efficiency Vermont featured on VPR's Vermont Edition

David Martins

Jun 5, 2013
1 min

Efficiency Vermont featured on VPR's Vermont Edition

Jim Merriam, director of Efficiency Vermont and Ludy Biddle, director of NeighborWorks of Western Vermont were featured on Vermont Public Radio’s Vermont Edition yesterday afternoon. Merriam and Biddle discussed Vermont’s energy efficiency programs and how they are administered statewide. Link and listen to Vermont Edition story #EfficiencyVermont #EnergyEfficiency #VPR #VT

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David Martins

Mar 14, 2013
1 min

Affordable housing is out of reach in Vermont

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) released it’s report, Out of Reach 2013, earlier this week. The national study highlights the growing gap between minimum wage and the cost of a basic apartment. Specifically, the report focuses on barriers to finding and maintaining an affordable home nationwide. Since it’s release, affordable housing has been spotlighted in local media: Barre Montpelier Times Argus Renting in Vermont: Gap remains between income and affordabi

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Vermont Edition: Homeless for the Holidays

David Martins

Dec 19, 2012
1 min

Vermont Edition: Homeless for the Holidays

By Jane Lindholm. Reposted from Vermont Public Radio, December 10, 2012. #Homelessness #HousingAgencyandNonprofitNews #VPR #VT

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Mobile Home Advocates Push For Easier Funding

David Martins

Mar 22, 2012
1 min

Mobile Home Advocates Push For Easier Funding

#Homelessness #VTIrene #VPR #VT #VTRecovery #Poverty #HousingCreationandPreservation #AdvocacyandPolicy #StateBudgetFunding #DisasterRelief #Housing #Irene

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David Martins

Feb 2, 2012
1 min

Vermont To Help Displaced Vermonters Through CDBG Funds

VPR News interview with Jen Hollar, Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing, & Community Development A lot of Vermonters displaced by Irene are hoping their home will be bought out by the FEMA hazard mitigation program, which pays up to 75 percent of the home’s pre-storm fair market value. Jennifer Hollar, Deputy Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development, says the state is committed to helping homeowner

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