Vermont Housing Finance Agency Language Access Plan 

Vermont Housing Finance Agency shall establish and maintain a Language Access Plan (LAP). The purpose of the LAP is to ensure access for populations with limited English proficiency (LEP), in compliance with federal civil rights laws. Applicable laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, or national origin, including limited English proficiency. These federal laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, sex, age, or disability. 

The VHFA LAP contains planning and implementation elements describing how VHFA will provide information and services to persons with limited English proficiency and persons with varying levels of hearing, sight or speech who need accommodations to support effective communication. 

A copy of VHFA’s Language Access Plan is available here:  VHFA LAP

For more information, please email George Demas, General Counsel or mail to: Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Attn: George Demas, 164 Saint Paul Street, P.O. Box 408 Burlington, VT 05402. 

Title VI Notice 

Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits exclusion from participation in, denial of benefits of, and discrimination under federally assisted programs on grounds of race, color or national origin. The intent of the law is to ensure that all persons, regardless of race, color or national origin, are given the opportunity to participate in federally funded programs. 

In addition, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI Fund) of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, from which Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) receives funding, requires that programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, sex, national origin, sex, age, disability or limited English proficiency.   

Title VI Compliance

Any person who believes their rights under Title VI have been violated has a right to file a formal complaint.

Filing a complaint with the State of Vermont Human Rights Commission

Under the jurisdiction of 9 V.S.A. § 4552, the Human Rights Commission (HRC) may investigate allegations of discrimination in housing, public accommodations, and state government employment. The HRC can be contacted on their website, by email at [email protected], by phone at (802) 828-2480, or by mail at State of Vermont Human Rights Commission, 12 Baldwin Street, Montpelier, Vermont 05633.

Filing a complaint with the U.S. Department of the Treasury

To file a program discrimination complaint with the U.S. Department of the Treasury, call (202) 622-1160, send an e-mail to:[email protected], or mail it to: U.S. Department of the Treasury, Director, Office of Civil Rights and Equal Employment Opportunity, 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20220.

Filing a complaint with VHFA

Applicants to VHFA programs funded by the U.S. Department of the Treasury who believe they have been denied a benefit or experienced some other negative action because of membership in a protected class (race, color, national origin, religion/creed, disability, sex/gender or familial status) may submit a complaint directly to VHFA. Please email George Demas, General Counsel, or mail to: Vermont Housing Finance Agency, Attn: George Demas, 164 Saint Paul Street, P.O. Box 408 Burlington, VT 05402.