In response to the Coronavirus pandemic, Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced today the award of $100,000 in grants to the state’s nonprofit housing providers and public housing agencies. Another $20,000 will be donated to Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations selected by VHFA’s 38 staff members.
“The Governor’s directive to Stay Safe and Stay Home highlights the critical role homes serve in keeping us safe and healthy.,” said Executive Director Maura Collins. “The past two weeks have presented the organizations helping to house Vermont’s most vulnerable residents with unprecedented challenges. It is our hope that the resources VHFA can deploy quickly will ease the strain of the immediate needs facing them, and protect more Vermonters by helping stabilize their housing,” Collins continued.
The 20 organizations serve every region of the state and each provides affordable rental housing to low-income Vermonters. Each organization will immediately receive grants of $5,000 to support that work.
VHFA’s long-standing tradition of staff engagement and charitable work prompted the Agency to set aside an additional $20,000 for donations to non-profits selected by staff. Each staff member is directing $500 of VHFA’s giving by selecting up to five Vermont-based charities working to respond to the unprecedented needs caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.
Staff identified a variety of local organizations, many of which are devoted to serving Vermonters experiencing homelessness, hunger and mental health challenges. "I'm consistently inspired by generosity of VHFA's staff," Collins remarked. "Selecting organizations who need help during this emergency comes naturally to them."
The 20 organizations to receive the total of $100,000 from VHFA are:
- Addison County Community Trust
- Cathedral Square Corporation
- Champlain Housing Trust
- Downstreet Housing & Community Development
- Housing Foundation Inc
- Housing Trust of Rutland County
- Lamoille Housing Partnership
- Randolph Area Community Development Corporation
- RuralEdge
- Twin Pines Housing Trust
- Windham and Windsor Housing Trust
- Shires Housing
- Barre Housing Authority
- Bennington Housing Authority
- Brattleboro Housing Partnerships
- Burlington Housing Authority
- Montpelier Housing Authority
- Rutland Housing Authority
- Springfield Housing Authority
- Winooski Housing Authority