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.

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: Sheila Crowley, President/CEO, National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Sheila joined the staff of the coalition in December 1998, after two decades in Richmond, Vir., in organizational leadership, direct service, policy advocacy, and scholarship. She's a social worker with a bachelor's (1976), master's (1978), and Ph.D. (1998) from the School of Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University.

We've changed the focus of one of the workshops coming up at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference:

"Challenging Changes for Housing" will still cover the Challenges for Change legislation, but will no longer focus on Washington County.

We'll discuss the legislation and what housing providers can expect in the future. The Deputy Secretary of the Vermont Agency of Human Services will provide an agency overview and then focus will shift to the Department of Corrections and its plans for transitional housing.

A community-based housing provider will respond to the agency's plans.