Executive Director Maura Collins announced that VHFA has selected Alejandro Flores-Howland (he/him) of Winooski as its new Legal Coordinator.

Flores-Howland has a Bachelor’s Degree from Green Mountain College and a Paralegal Associate of Applied Science Degree from SUNY Schenectady. He has worked both at private law firms and at the Vermont Attorney General’s office. He enjoys exploring the outdoors and has also worked as a guide at Umiak Outfitters in Stowe.    

"VHFA’s Legal Department has been responsible for overseeing several new programs during the pandemic, in addition to its usual work," Collins remarked. "Alejandro’s experience and attention to detail are a welcome addition to the team.”

The State of Vermont's Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is seeking input from stakeholders on the Vermont Draft Recovery Housing Program Action Plan (RHP). The plan outlines priorities for the use of approximately $1.5 million in federal funds being provided to the State to address the needs of transitional housing for people recovering from addiction.  

Vermont learned last month that its population grew by a slim 2.8% between 2010 and 2020, less than the national average of 7.4%. But by planning to invest millions in American Rescue Plan Act funds in homes and neighborhoods, Vermont policy makers have embraced the opportunity presented by this decade to accelerate community and economic vibrancy. Last week, the Vermont legislature ended its session with a proposed 2022 state budget allocation for housing of $190 million of these federal recovery funds. 

VHFA will be hosting two public meetings on June 1 and June 3 to discuss how to use federal American Rescue Plan Act funding to serve Vermont homeowners. The Homeowners Assistance Fund, created by the act, will provide Vermont up to $50 million over the next 3 years to provide assistance for mortgage payments and other expenses troubling homeowners with pandemic-related hardship.

Meetings will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, June 1, 2021, at noon and Thursday, June 3, 2021, at 5 PM (meeting hyperlinks and call-in phone numbers below).  VHFA will use community input from these meetings to help design programs targeted to homeowners with incomes at or below the area median and to socially disadvantaged homeowners.