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

May 4, 2015
3 min

Governor Shumlin Announces $500,000 for Affordable Housing in Colchester

Standing in the heart of a Colchester neighborhood, Gov. Peter Shumlin announced a $500,000 Vermont Community Development Program grant to lock in the affordability of eighty homes and make them more energy efficient. The apartments are part of Winchester Place, a mixed-income development of 166 apartments owned in partnership by the Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont. The long term affordability of the homes will secured through the purchase of the land which has

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David Martins

May 1, 2015
1 min

Vermont Rural Ventures’ Project Selected as Semi-Finalist for National Award

Vermont Rural Ventures’ innovative financing of the redevelopment of Brattleboro’s Brooks House has been chosen as a semi-finalist by the National Development Council (NDC) for its Academy 2015 Awards. The awards recognize the top economic and community development projects in the nation and are part of the NDC Academy 2015 biennial conference. Vermont Rural Ventures, the community development subsidiary of Housing Vermont, partnered with the Massachusetts Housing Investment

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David Martins

Apr 22, 2015
2 min

VPR Segment on Ending Homelessness

Recently, VPR commentator John Vogel discussed Governor Shumlin’s plan to end homelessness and the Housing First model. For a link that includes audio, click here. Governor Shumlin recently announced a new plan to end homelessness by 2020. Unfortunately, the plan seems to be getting little traction, perhaps because he introduced a similar, five year plan in 2013, and since then homelessness in Vermont has actually gone up. So I’ve been wondering whether other states are doing

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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 21, 2015
2 min

Affordable Housing Plan Near Vergennes Holds Promise

The Addison County Independent reports on a possible new project by Addison County Community Trust that would bring seven new affordable rental homes to Vergennes. Below is an excerpt from the article: A Waltham affordable housing project that the Addison County Community Trust (ACCT) has looked at for years now could become a reality. The ACCT has applied to the Waltham Development Review board for a conditional use permit that would allow the trust to install seven modular

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David Martins

Apr 16, 2015
3 min

Affordable Housing Puts Many Businesses to Work

Chris Donnelly, Director of Community Relations for the Champlain Housing Trust and VAHC Steering Committee member, writes about how affordable housing helps strengthen our economy for the Burlington Free Press: Recently, I had the opportunity to chat with Rob Naylor, president and co-founder of Naylor & Breen Builders, a Brandon-based construction company. He had come to the Vermont Statehouse to explain to lawmakers how important building affordable housing was to his busin

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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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RFP Vermont Community Energy Partnership Grant Program

David Martins

Apr 14, 2015
1 min

RFP Vermont Community Energy Partnership Grant Program

Efficiency Vermont and Burlington Electric Department are soliciting proposals from nonprofit organizations to receive grants that will enable them to help low-income Vermonters reduce their energy bills. Under the Vermont Community Energy Partnership Grant Program, non-profit organizations that have on-going relationships with low-income Vermonters are encouraged to submit applications for projects that will help low-income Vermonters: (1) achieve energy savings through the

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David Martins

Apr 14, 2015
3 min

Burlington Mayor's Office Presents Housing Action Plan

Last night, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger presented his Housing Action Plan to the City Council and members of the public. The article below from the Burlington Free Press discusses this presentation of the plan and challenges that lie ahead: A far-reaching plan to improve housing in Burlington will likely get more public input before it gets City Council approval. Public comment and discussion among councilors Monday night tilted toward extending a final decision by at l

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Save the Date: Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference, June 5th

David Martins

Apr 14, 2015
1 min

Save the Date: Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference, June 5th

The Agency of Commerce and Community Development in partnership with the Preservation Trust of Vermont is pleased to announce open registration to the Downtown and Historic Preservation Conference in Burlington Friday, June 5th at Main Street Landing. The conference will offer a wide range of topics to enhance the quality of life in our downtowns and villages including Using Streets to Revitalize Communities, Increasing Downtown Housing Opportunities, Innovating Community Eng

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On April 16, 2015, Vermont's Governor Peter Shumlin Proclaims April as Fair Housing Month in Ve

David Martins

Apr 13, 2015
1 min

On April 16, 2015, Vermont's Governor Peter Shumlin Proclaims April as Fair Housing Month in Ve

On April 16, 2015, Governor Peter Shumlin will proclaim April as Fair Housng Month in Vermont. The official signing of the Proclamation will take place in the Governor’s Ceremonial Office in the Vermont State House at 10:00AM. All are welcome to attend. For more information contact FHP@CVOEO.org. #Events #FairHousing #VT

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David Martins

Apr 13, 2015
2 min

First Seven Promise Communities Selected

The Agency of Human Services recently announced the selection of the first seven Vermont communities that will participate in the new Promise Communities initiative. This initiative supports collaboration across the education, health care, human service, public, and private sectors to create an all-of-the-above, comprehensive approach to transforming communities to better support children with high needs. The communities selected to participate in the first part of the initi

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Job Opportunity: Leasing Property Manager at Champlain Housing Trust

David Martins

Apr 13, 2015
1 min

Job Opportunity: Leasing Property Manager at Champlain Housing Trust

Join Champlain Housing Trust’s Property Management team in Burlington and serve the affordable housing needs of a diverse group of people. You will have the opportunity to work in a team environment while also setting your own daily priorities. You will be responsible for marketing vacant apartments, for all aspects of the operation of a portfolio of properties including tenant relations, rent collections, rent increases, lease enforcement and compliance with Federal, State

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David Martins

Apr 7, 2015
3 min

Celebrate Fair Housing

April is Fair Housing Month. In this opinion piece published by the Burlington Free Press Ted Wimpey, Director of CVOEO’s Fair Housing Project and Chair of the VAHC Steering Committee, writes about why we should celebrate the Fair Housing Act: Selma and other triumphs of the Civil Rights Movement have rightly captured public attention, but April marks a singular anniversary from that era that also has special significance — both nationally and in Vermont. In April 1968, one w

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David Martins

Apr 7, 2015
1 min

Consolidated Plan Draft and Comment Period

The Vermont Department of Housing and Community Development posted a revised “second draft” of its proposed 2015-2019 HUD Consolidated Plan and 2015 Action Plan on March 26, 2015 with tracked changes from the earlier draft version published on March 12. The document and information about the plan are available on DHCD’s website at: http://accd.vermont.gov/strong_communities/housing/planning/consolidated_plan. Written comments on the proposed plan will be accepted until 4:30

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David Martins

Apr 2, 2015
1 min

AARP Vermont Live: Housing Issues

Recently VAHC Director Erhard Mahnke and Cindy Reid of Cathedral Square Corporation sat down with Host Kelly Stoddard Poor, Associate State Director for Outreach of AARP Vermont to discuss senior housing issues on AARP Live. To view the program, see the embedded video below or click here. #CathedralSquare #Housing #VT

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David Martins

Apr 1, 2015
2 min

Mobile Home Parks Go Up for Auction

Five mobile home parks in central Vermont are scheduled to be auctioned later this month. Below is an excerpt from a recent article in the Times Argus that details the sale: Five 50-year-old mobile home parks that collectively account for nearly 25 percent of the lots that can be leased in Washington County will be the subject of a court-ordered auction next month. The auction, which is set for 10 a.m. on April 17 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, will cap a protracted lega

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David Martins

Mar 31, 2015
1 min

Save the Date: VCDA Spring Conference in Randolph, May 14th

Please join the Vermont Community Development Association (VCDA) for its Spring Conference on Thursday, May 14th at The Lyons Den in Randolph, VT. The theme of this year’s conference is “Age-Friendly Communities – Possibilities, Challenges, and Social & Economic Benefits.” Click here for more details (PDF file). Complete registration packet will follow soon. Contact Theresa Bachand at VLCT for more information at (802) 229-9111, tbachand@vlct.org. #Events #VT

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David Martins

Mar 31, 2015
2 min

Gov. Shumlin Announces Strategy to End Family Homelessness by 2020

With over 1,500 Vermonters without housing on any given night and families with children now making up half of all people in emergency shelters, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Human Services Secretary Hal Cohen today announced a statewide strategy for ending child and family homelessness in Vermont by 2020. The Governor and Secretary made the announcement while celebrating a grant of more than a half-million dollars to rehabilitate and increase the number affordable housing units in

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David Martins

Mar 30, 2015
1 min

April Fair Housing Month Events

On April 1st, one of several events for April is Fair Housing Month will be taking place. Inside of Burlington’s City Hall, 148 Church St., just outside of the Contois auditorium entrance, from 5:00pm – 7:00pm, the following activities are scheduled: The Mayor of Burlington, and Burlington City Council President, Joan Shannon, will deliver proclamations of this April, as Fair Housing Month for Burlington, Vermont. Jazz a cappella songs will be performed by the Calloway Taxi s

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