More than 450 people gathered at the 17th Annual New England Resident Service Coordinators (NERSC) last week at the Stowe Mountain Lodge. Attendees came from all over the 6 New England states plus 8 other states nationally. This conference only occurs every six years in the state of Vermont and Vermont Housing Finance Agency was so pleased to host the 2015 meeting. The theme of the conference was Diversity: Celebrating Beauty & Strength.

The VA Medical Center in White River Junction, Vermont State Housing Authority and Vermont Council on Homelessness are committed to the national goal of ending homelessness among Veterans by 2015.  In light of new federal resources now available to support this goal, these groups are calling for your help connecting homeless Veterans with the rental assistance and housing they need to be successful.  Of high priority are Veterans who may be outdoors or staying in emergency homeless shelters and motels who may not have had recent contact with government services.  These Vermonters in need may not be aware of the benefits they are entitled to. 

On May 5, the bill, S.1193, was introduced. The bill is the Improving the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Rate Act, which would permanently establish a minimum 9 percent Housing Credit rate and a minimum 4 percent Credit rate for acquisition. Both Senator Leahy and Senator Sanders are original co-sponsors of this bill because they understand the importance of this piece of legislation on future housing development in Vermont.

Executive Director Sarah Carpenter announced Steve Gronlund of Shelburne, VT has joined VHFA as Human Resources Manager.

Steve comes to VHFA from Heartworks and Renaissance Schools where he worked for the past 15 years, most recently as the Human Resources and Business Manager.

“VHFA is happy to welcome someone with Steve’s directly relevant skills and experience in human resources and business planning... His expertise and enthusiasm will help the Agency remain one of the best places to work in Vermont," Sarah said.