Formerly foreclosed upon, newly renovated homes might sit vacant as a result of stricter credit standards following the foreclosure crisis. That's the concern reflected in a survey conducted by NeighborWorks at a recent meeting in Philadelphia.

Two dozen non-profit organizations representing $740 million in Neighborhood Stabilization Program funds were polled.

“The concern is real and it is across the board,” said Thomas Deyo, Deputy Director of National Initiatives and Applied Research at NeighborWorks America.

(From left: Smart Growth Vermont Board Chair Robin Poole-Scheu; Vermont Housing Finance Agency Commissioner Gus Seelig; Smart Growth Vermont Executive Director Noelle MacKay; and Smart Growth Vermont's founder, John Ewing)

Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) Executive Director and VHFA Commissioner Gus Seelig was presented with Smart Growth Vermont’s 2010 Arthur Gibb Award for Individual Leadership.

With close to 100 people registered to attend the November housing conference, we're beginning to see what workshops people consider the day's hot tickets.

In the morning session, "What Lies Ahead for Vermont's Housing Economy" is the most popular workshop, holding 40% of all registrations for that time-slot. Using the latest state-level data, panelists will quantify Vermont's current need for affordable housing, the role of real estate in the state's economy, and what local housing markets can expect in 2011 and beyond.

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: Joe Belden, Deputy Executive Director, Housing Assistance Council (HAC).

HAC is a national nonprofit provider of loans, grants, research, information, training and technical assistance for affordable rural housing. Previously a research associate at HAC, Joe's also worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, on Capitol Hill, and for several policy-oriented research organizations in Washington, D.C.