Vermont’s legislative and housing program leaders toured the Irene-devastated neighborhoods of Waterbury yesterday and met with FEMA and SBA officials to examine progress and exchange information about the experiences of agencies trying to help.

Read more at VTDigger.org.

On October 12, VHFA’s executive director, Sarah Carpenter, joined housing finance leaders from other states and from the National Council of State Housing Agencies at a White House convening on affordable housing. 

HUD organized the forum primarily to engage key stakeholders in the results of the 20 regional convenings it held this past year, the FY 2012 HUD budget, and the American Jobs Act.  

HUD Secretary Shaun Donavan stressed the importance of the housing community uniting in an effort to secure the maximum possible funding for federal housing programs.  He urged groups not to “fight over the pieces… their share of the pie” but instead to “speak as housers, with one voice in support of more resources overall.” 

Only one other state in the country (Maine) has more of its housing stock comprised of vacant, seasonal units.    A recent comprehesive report from the Census Bureau on housing characteristics shows that these homes make up 15.6% of Vermont's housing stock--an increase from 14.6% in 2000.    Only 3.5% of all homes in the U.S. are vacant, seasonal units. 

Despite a slight national decline between 2000 and 2010 in the percentage of homes that are owner occupied, Vermont's homeownership rate was virtually unchanged at 70.7%. 

The Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living warns Vermonters recovering from Tropical Storm Irene to be "Vermont Smart" and protect themselves against fraud when hiring contractors:

Not Everyone Really Wants to Help

FOLLOW THESE STEPS BEFORE YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO CLEAR OR REPAIR YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY