The Burlington Housing Authority (BHA) has signed purchase and sale agreements with Maple Street Building Co. and Bobbin Mill Building Co. to acquire Wharf Lane Apartments and Bobbin Mill Apartments in Burlington.

BHA will purchase 37-unit Wharf Lane, at the corner of Maple and South Champlain streets, for $3.515 million. The closing is planned for March 31.

Purchase price for the 51-unit Bobbin Mill building at 234 S. Champlain St. will be $6.485 million, if it's purchased by BHA no later than December 2012.

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) awarded two Vermont organizations a total of $450,000 to educate the public and combat housing and lending discrimination.

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity will receive a $125,000 Education and Outreach Initiative grant to educate the public and housing providers about their rights and obligations under federal, state, and local fair housing laws.

The National Council of State Housing Agencies (NCSHA) has launched "The Faces of Home," a public awareness campaign to showcase the important work performed by housing finance agencies (HFAs) such as VHFA.

The City of Burlington's Question #8 passed 4,102/1,753 during last week's Town Meeting Day.

You might remember from last week's post ("VAHC urges 'Yes' on Burlington's Question #8") the question dealt with sending a message to Montpelier urging the Legislature to pass a bill protecting at-risk assisted Vermonters and their housing.

The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition thanks everyone who helped out with its “Save Our Homes” campaign — especially those who donated money to get fliers to more than 15,000 Burlington households, as well as create lawn signs.