Now through the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18, we’re spotlighting speakers planning to participate in the day’s bevy of workshops. Next up: Jesse Kayan, Community Services Coordinator, Westgate Housing Inc., Brattleboro, Vt.

At Westgate, Jesse works with an enthusiastic tenant body to create a vibrant community and a healthy non-profit that's controlled by the residents of Westgate.

Before working at Westgate, he ran a women's shelter in New Orleans, La., where resident empowerment and leadership was at the core of the shelter's mission.

VHFA researchers are available to speak to members of the media on the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS) data that were released yesterday.

VHFA’s research team includes Policy and Planning Manager Maura Collins, MPA; and Research Analyst Leslie Black-Plumeau, MPP.

Direct inquiries to Communications Coordinator Craig Bailey.

ACS is an annual survey of approximately 3 million households that provides recent information on the characteristics of Americans and their households, including the cost of homes and the ability of Americans to afford them.

According to American Community Survey (ACS) data released by the Census Bureau today, the median Vermont household income remained unchanged between 2009 and 2008, at approximately $52,000. Thirty-four states experienced a decline in median income. Vermont's median income has remained statistically unchanged for the past four years and is ranked 21st highest, just slightly above the U.S. median.

VHFA has been hired by the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) to write the state's 10-year plan to end homelessness.

VHFA expects to spend five to six months researching, writing, soliciting feedback and making final revisions to the report. We plan to release it during the next legislative season.

Vermont's initiative to publish a 10-year plan was inspired by the National Alliance to End Homelessness's 2001 report "A Plan, Not a Dream: How to End Homelessness in Ten Years," which encouraged communities to develop and implement plans to end or greatly reduce homelessness in their communities.