Over the past 18 months, VHFA, the Vermont Housing Managers Association (VHMA) and other statewide housing providers and advocates have been working on the concept of developing a universal rental application that could meet the basic needs of most housing programs in Vermont. A streamlined approach has been requested by rental applicants, case managers and social service agencies working with rental applicants for years. The need to simplify the process was identified in June at Governor Shumlin’s Housing the Homeless Summit and is even more pressing with the housing issues following the devastation wrought by Irene.
VHFA recently released the final draft of the common application based on feedback received over the past year, including the VHMA Shelburne Farms meeting on August 23, 2011. At the meeting, VHFA’s Executive Director, Sarah Carpenter, announced that the application would be implemented on January 1, 2012. Sarah also noted at the meeting that all statewide funders have agreed that using this application will be required as a condition for future Vermont funding cycles.
Please contact Sam Falzone at [email protected] or (802) 652-6435 with any questions or comments.
View the draft Common Rental Application.