According to Nancy Eldridge, Executive Director of Vermont's Cathedral Square Corporation, programs that combine funding sources and care management approaches can provide cost effective, compassionate, and sustainable housing and care for low-income elderly people.    

Cathedral Square's innovative SASH program (Support and Services at Home) is just such a program, as Eldridge describes in Sunday's Burlington Free Press. 

It's time for VHFA's annual mitten drive for Burlington's King Street Center and we need your help.  Donations of new mittens, gloves, hats, or scarves  to our office on the corner of King and St. Paul Streets in Burlington are heartily welcome any time before Friday, December 9.  Waterproof gloves and mittens are especially appreciated. 

A $4.8 million federal housing grant for the Burlington Thayer Commons project was announced yesterday.   The grant will support the addition of 28 rent-subsidized units to the project.   

VHFA is providing 4% (bond) low-income housing tax credits as well as construction financing for the project. 

The location of the project on Burlington's North Avenue where the Department of Motor Vehicles once operated will offer seniors access to public transit, shopping, health care and other services. 

The development includes apartments rented at market rates and affordable senior and family apartments.   A total of 113 apartments are now under construction.

Reports analyzing Chittenden County's housing needs, economic development, natural resources,  transportation, land use, education, public health and energy issues have been completed for the ECOS project.   All communities, organizations and residents are encouraged to review and comment on these reports by December 31 through the ECOS website.   VHFA prepared the housing needs report in collaboration with ECOS project partners.