VHFA has partnered with the Technical Assistance Collaborative (TAC) of Boston, Mass., to be a U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD)-funded technical assistance provider.

HUD recently awarded TAC $1 million in Special Needs Assistance Programs (SNAPS) to assist states and local communities to meet the needs of homeless people, including chronically homeless individuals, veterans, and families.

TAC will use these resources to assist states, local governments, non-profit organizations, and Continuum of Care planning groups to understand and implement new requirements codified in the Homeless Emergency and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act.

The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing, & Community Development and CVOEO's Fair Housing Project present "Removing Barriers to Strengthen Communities: Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing at the Local Level" next month.

The workshop will offer important information to municipal planners, realtors, lenders, affordable housing developers, property managers and town officials. Topics include:

Nearly $77,000 is coming to Vermont from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help families find decent housing and to prevent future foreclosures.

The Central Vermont Community Action Council in Barre and Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council in Rutland will share $76,882.73 in HUD grants.

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity has been given the Clarence Jordan Award for a home its building in Charlotte.

Habitat for Humanity International honors just two local chapters a year with the award. There are approximately 1,500 local Habitat affiliates nationwide.

Construction of the house, on Greenbush Road across from the Old Lantern, began in September. Builders are paying special attention to carbon-neutral construction concepts as specified by the Passive House Institute.