In January, Vermont Housing Finance Agency was instrumental in the sale of nearly $37 million in Vermont Property Transfer Tax Revenue Bonds. Proceeds from these bonds, sold as sustainability bonds due to their intended use, support the Housing for All initiative to construct and preserve affordable housing across Vermont. Project development is underway. Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) has already awarded proceeds from the housing bonds to 15 planned affordable housing projects.

VHFA is delighted to congratulate Beth Pearce, who has been selected by Emerge Vermont to receive the 2018 Governor Madeleine Kunin Lifetime Achievement Award. In addition to serving as Vermont State Treasurer, Pearce also has a seat on the VHFA Board of Commissioners.

Elm Place, an apartment building in Milton that was developed with support from Vermont Housing Finance Agency, won three national awards for its use of energy efficient design. The project was developed and is managed by Cathedral Square. The building, which opened its doors last spring, offers 30 units of affordable rental housing for seniors. The project was supported in part by $6.3 million in federal housing tax credits allocated by VHFA.

H.R. 766, the bill that includes an expansion of  VHFA’s Down Payment Assistance Program, was approved by the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development last week.  Since the program started in 2015, demand among qualified first-time home buyers has been twice what can be funded through the Vermont Affordable Housing Tax Credit, the program’s designated funding source.