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.

Research from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that 3.4 million American borrowers used the federal mortgage forbearance provision during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report suggests that forbearance helped reduce the risk of default and foreclosure to improve housing stability, particularly among the low-income and minority households hit hardest by the pandemic.

VHFA joined housing partners in Bennington earlier this week for a ribbon-cutting for Manchester Knoll and Woodland Station. The project, developed by Shires Housing, rehabilitated and preserved 27 affordable apartments located in Manchester and Bennington. The project received federal and state tax credits and a loan awarded by VHFA.