BURLINGTON, VT Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) will donate a pair of mittens stuffed with holiday candy to Burlington’s Women Helping Battered Women office for every new “like” of the Agency’s Facebook page through Sunday, December 15. “Our ‘mitten stuffing’ drive has been a holiday tradition at VHFA for many years,” according to Executive Director Sarah Carpenter. “This year, we thought we’d step up our goal since Women Helping Battered Women expects to see at least 300 children this month,” she continued. There are two ways the greater community can help.
Press Releases
BURLINGTON, VT The New England Affordable Housing Management Association (NEAHMA) honored Sam Falzone, VHFA's Director of Multifamily Programs, at their 25th annual conference this week in Norwood, MA. Mr. Falzone was presented the 2013 “Agency Staff Person of the Year” award by Nancy Hogan, NEAMA Vice President Agency Liaison on October 15, 2013. Appointed to the original NEAHMA Board in 1989, Mr. Falzone has maintained his support for this prominent New England training organization for many years. Joining VHFA’s staff in 1979, Mr.
BURLINGTON—Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Director of Administration, Patricia Loller, was named Vermont’s Human Resources Professional of the Year on Monday by the Society of Human Resources Management. In presenting the award, Donna Austin-Hawley, President of the Vermont Human Resources Association (VHRA), noted Ms. Loller’s unmatched work ethic, energy, and organization in the leadership roles she has held with VHRA. The benefits of her work have touched human resource professionals statewide as VHRA Vice President, Program Committee member and Audit Committee member.
BURLINGTON, VT A new grant program launched today will connect lower income Vermonters with the down payment and closing costs needed to buy a home at historically low rates. Today the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) rolled out its down payment and closing assistance grants for Vermont home buyers, calling the program MOVE ASSIST. “MOVE ASSIST grants will enable low- to moderate-income Vermonters to clear one of the most difficult barriers to buying a home – the down payment or closing costs,” said Jacklyn Santerre, Director of Homeownership at VHFA.
BURLINGTON—Robin Howe knows how to stretch a dollar. Howe, Vermont Housing Finance Agency’s Multifamily Operations Specialist, worked to turn a one dollar public relations campaign into a $2,590 gift to a homeless shelter in Brattleboro, Vermont. Ms. Howe worked during the month of February to raise funds for the Morningside Shelter after she learned about a project called Change the World, in which “change the world” was written on 100 one dollar bills and handed to 100 people. The only instruction was to think about ways to change the world.
BURLINGTON—Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Tara Brown of Hinesburg, VT has joined Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) as Loan Servicing Assistant. Tara comes to VHFA from Dwight Asset Management Company, LLC where she worked as Executive Assistant for the past 10 years. Tara has a BA in Liberal Arts from State University of New York at Stonybrook.
BURLINGTON—Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) has taken two big steps towards making housing more affordable in the Green Mountain State. VHFA closed two bond deals this week: one will fund mortgages for lower income homebuyers and the other restructures and provides the loans for 25 different multifamily rental projects, lowering their interest rates and extending how long the developments must remain affordable. The single family bond sale that closed December 18th provides $50 million in low-interest mortgages to finance between 250 and 350 home purchases.
BURLINGTON—Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Seth Leonard of Winooski, VT has joined Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) as Homeownership Outreach Coordinator. Seth comes to VHFA after four years with Opportunities Credit Union where he was a Branch Manager. Seth’s responsibilities at Opportunities Credit Union included mortgage and consumer lending and marketing. Seth is an active board member of the Winooski Community Partnership Board and has served on the United Way Impact Team and mentored for the Boys and Girls Club of Burlington.
BURLINGTON—A packed room of about 430 people gathered this morning at the Burlington Hilton to hear Governor Shumlin’s opening address and the plenary session of the biennial Statewide Vermont Housing Conference. Shumlin recounted the challenges the state has overcome since Tropical Storm Irene caused the most devastation Vermont communities have ever experienced. Equipping our neighborhoods for the “climate change storms” of the future and rebuilding more durably is an absolute requirement, he explained.