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.

The honor was received during the NERSC 20 year anniversary conference and celebration in Newport, Rhode Island on May 2^nd through 4^th.  Sam Falzone, VHFA’s recently retired Director of Multifamily Programs, accepted the plaque on behalf of VHFA in recognition of his many years of service to NERSC. The conference was also attended by VHFA Multifamily Management Officer Ann-Marie Plank, who serves on the NERSC Board of Directors.

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.

The Affinity Award recognizes organizations with the highest percentage of participation in their industry sector. In 2017, VHFA achieved an 83.8% staff participation rate for its campaign activities and raised nearly $12,000. Proceeds from VHFA fundraising will go towards United Way’s many initiatives to support the communities of Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties.

Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Peter Welch joined representatives from the Vermont Legislature, housing advocates, and many other supporters in downtown Montpelier on Tuesday at a groundbreaking ceremony for the French Block affordable housing project. The project, which is a joint effort between Housing Vermont and Downstreet Housing & Community Development, will rehabilitate a historic building to create 14 affordable apartments for low-income Vermonters and four market-rate apartments.

Planning is underway for the 2018 Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, held every other year. This year we will shake things up and change the focus to highlight the intersections housing has with education, community development, economic development, and health care. There will be more focus on specific municipal policy tools and case studies of communities that used those tools and what they learned. The 2016 conference drew over 400 housing professionals, including legislators, town and regional planners, advocates, developers, and bankers. Attendee evaluations from previous conferences have been consistently positive about the many opportunities to network, learn, and be inspired.