Earlier this month VHFA celebrated its 50 year history by honoring the community of partners and current and former staff intrinsic in VHFA's work. At an evening gathering at HULA in Burlington on Lake Champlain, VHFA Board of Commissioners chair Katie Buckley thanked the mortgage lenders, housing developers, lawmakers, state agency partners, financial institutions and advocates needed for VHFA to carry out it's mission.
"For 50 years, VHFA has expanded housing opportunities through innovative financing and programs and data-driven decision making," Buckley remarked. "But this work is done in community, in partnership with dedicated individuals and with federal, state and local agencies."
The highlight of the celebration was viewing a short film about VHFA's history and accomplishments.
"The current staff and board are truly standing on the shoulders of giants to do the work we are lucky enough to do today," said Maura Collins, VHFA's Executive Director. The historical tone of the evening extended back even before VHFA's start when Collins noted that her great grandfather was a blacksmith in VHFA's current building when it was William Smith's Carriage and Wagon Works over 100 years ago.