A new report by the Center for Housing Policy (CHP) says housing affordability has significantly decreased for working owners and renters.

The annual report, "Housing Landscape 2011," looks at housing affordability trends for working households between 2008 and 2009 focusing on the effects of employment, income and housing costs.

According to the report, nearly one in four working households had a severe housing cost burden in 2009, spending more than half of its income on housing costs.

The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) is seeking a qualified consultant to conduct and prepare an Analysis of Impediments (AI) to Fair Housing Choice for the State of Vermont in connection with the State’s programs funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

Barbara Fields has become the new administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's (HUD) New England Region.

Fields was Executive Director of the Rhode Island office of Local Initiatives Support Corp. (LISC), a community development intermediary.

"Barbara's extensive knowledge of affordable housing and her comprehensive approach to community revitalization are a perfect complement to the Obama Administration," said HUD Sec. Shaun Donovan.

WGDR 91.1 FM in Plainfield will air the 14th Annual Homelessness Marathon, Feb. 23-24.

The 14-hour broadcast, which originates from 100,000-watt KKFI in Kansas City, Mo., and is free to air for non-profit stations, features voices and stories of homeless people around the country with live call-ins via a national toll-free number.

The broadcast starts at 7 p.m. Eastern time next Wednesday, Feb. 23, and goes all night until 9 a.m. the next morning.