Community leaders and housing partners came together last week to celebrate the completion of renovations to historic buildings in downtown Bennington.  Developed and managed by Shires Housing, the buildings include 26 affordable apartments for low-income residents of all ages.  

Federal and state housing credits provided by VHFA covered forty percent of the costs of rehabbing the buildings. Other sources of funding include the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the HOME program, the Federal Home Loan Bank’s Affordable Housing Program, the federal historic tax credit and the Vermont Community Development Program.  

The Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is now accepting applications for its At-Risk Children grant. This free grant opportunity is open to social service providers, early childhood education programs, daycare centers, school-based programs such as ELL classrooms and afterschool programs, family centers, community organizations, shelters, low-income housing and other groups throughout Vermont and New Hampshire that serve low-income or at-risk infants and children up to age 12 (or a segment of that age range). 

Don't miss tonight's Burlington Young Professionals On Tap event  to learn about how to get started thinking about buying a home.  VHFA's Seth Leonard as well as other experts will be on hand to answer your questions and provide critical tips on buying a home in Vermont. 

Local realtor Blair Knowles described what the event has to offer and some of the challenges facing first time home buyers on WCAX last night.  

• Tuesday, November 29, 2016
• 5:30 - 7:30 pm 
• The Growler Garage
• 30 Main Street
• Burlington, VT 

Break out your knitting needles (or get shopping) to keep children warm this winter. Drop off new children’s mittens and gloves at VHFA’s office at the corner of Saint Paul and King Streets in Burlington by Friday, December 16. 

After stuffing them with holiday goodies, VHFA will deliver the gifts to the King Street Center for children and teens who participate in their programs. 

VHFA’s mitten drive has been an annual holiday tradition for many years, thanks to the generosity of area mitten and glove donors like you.  Contact Steve Gronlund with questions at 864-5743 .