On Monday, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners awarded $425,000 in state housing tax credits for homeownership development projects. Once sold to investors, the credits will yield nearly $2 million in equity for construction. The projects will create new, high-quality homes affordable to low- and moderate-income Vermont homebuyers, which are virtually unavailable in Vermont’s in private housing market.

On August 13, 2021, VHFA released the draft Homeowner Assistance Fund plan for submission to the U.S. Treasury describing homeowner needs and proposed programs to be offered through the Vermont Homeowner Assistance Program. The plan is based on data pertaining to homeowner needs and input provided by community and state organizations committed to serving low and moderate income Vermont homeowners. VHFA held 3 public meetings in June 2021 to discuss the upcoming program.  

VHFA will hold a 4th public meeting on Thursday, August 19, 2021 to review Vermont's draft Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) plan. The meeting will be held via Zoom at noon. Registration is required.

Homelessness has been persistent across United States cities and states. In Vermont, the number of people experiencing homelessness has been rising slightly, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, which nearly doubled that number from 1,110 to over 2,000 at its height.  As a percentage of population, Vermont has the 10th highest rate of homelessness in the country. However, new strategies across the country are being utilized to successfully place people experiencing homelessness in stable homes.