The Fair Housing Project of CVOEO and the Vermont Human Rights Commission are conducting a survey on the prevalence of housing discrimination in Vermont. The results will be used to design better strategies to ensure fair and equitable housing choice for everyone. The survey deadline is July 30, 2021.
RFP issued for initiative to increase equity in Vermont's housing work
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) this week regarding the design and launch of a statewide initiative to address racial justice and equity in housing. The initiative will be guided by a steering committee comprised of representatives from NeighborWorks Alliance of Vermont, NeighborWorks America, VHFA, and other to-be-identified stakeholders. The goal of the initiative is to examine how racial inequities impact Black, Indigenous, and People of Color living in Vermont and identify actions, on both policy and programmatic levels, which expand access to affordable housing for all Vermonters.
New draft guidelines for upcoming Vermont Homeowner Assistance Fund released
VHFA released a draft program description and income limits this week for the Homeowner Assistance Fund that will start in the next few months. The Homeowner Assistance Fund was created by the federal American Rescue Plan Act to help homeowners avoid foreclosure and displacement by mitigating financial hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Fund will provide Vermont up to $50 million over a multi-year period to provide assistance for mortgage and other expenses facing Vermont homeowners.
VHFA awards federal and state tax credits for 107 affordable apartments
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners announced on Monday the award of state housing tax credits and loans to support the development, rehabilitation or preservation of 107 permanently affordable apartments in three communities across the state.
“Preserving existing housing and developing new permanently affordable homes is essential to meeting the housing needs of Vermonters and helping our communities fully recover from the pandemic,” remarked VHFA Executive Director Maura Collins.
VHFA previously awarded federal allocated or Ceiling tax credits in May. The latest funding round includes additional federal Bond credits, Vermont Affordable Housing Tax Credits and loans issued by VHFA.