Honors

Earlier this fall, VHFA Executive Director Sarah Carpenter received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Vermont Housing Managers Association (VHMA) for her lifetime of service in affordable housing.

Last week, Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) celebrated Halloween with a staff benefit event for United Way of Northwest Vermont. During the event, VHFA was honored to receive the President’s Award in recognition for its support of United Way in 2017.

Among the Halloween festivities were trick-or-treating for children of staff and costume and pumpkin carving contests. Entry fees from the contests will be donated to United Way.

This week Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) received national recognition for pioneering the use of state housing tax credits to provide down payment assistance to low- and moderate-income Vermonters.

The Vermont Statewide Housing Conference Committee is seeking nominations for the Innovation and Impact Housing Hero Award. Since 2002, the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference has celebrated the achievements and service of individuals by recognizing them through Housing Hero Awards. Recipients will be announced during the conference on November 13-14.

Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced today that later this year Sarah Carpenter, Executive Director, will be retiring, after twenty years at the agency’s helm. “As a result of Sarah’s vision and skill thousands of Vermonters have moved into decent, affordable homes since she arrived at VHFA in 1998,” said Randy Amis, chair of VHFA’s Board of Commissioners.

In recognition of her scholarly and professional achievements, VHFA’s Research and Communications Coordinator Mia Watson received the Marshall E. Dimock Award as a graduate of UVM’s Masters of Public Administration (MPA) program. 

The award was presented by MPA program director Christopher Koliba during UVM’s graduation festivities in May 2018.

VHFA has been recognized by the New England Resident Service Coordinators (NERSC) for its efforts to support excellence in training and education for Residence Service Coordinators. Resident Service Coordinators offer care and social services for the residents assisted housing, many of whom are elderly or disabled.

VHFA has been chosen by United Way of Northwest Vermont to receive the Affinity Award, which is given to the organization whose campaign results stand out most among their industry sector.  VHFA supports the work of United Way through frequent fundraising activities and by encouraging staff to volunteer in their communities.

For the third year in a row, VHFA was ranked in the top five Best Places to Work among small sized organizations across the state by Vermont Business Magazine. After receiving the honor of the number one spot in 2016, VHFA was ranked fourth for 2017, and has just been ranked second for 2018.

VHFA is delighted to congratulate Beth Pearce, who has been selected by Emerge Vermont to receive the 2018 Governor Madeleine Kunin Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to serving as Vermont State Treasurer, Pearce also has a seat on the VHFA Board of Commissioners.