Emily Higgin's letter to the editor published by the Burlington Free Press yesterday caught our eye.

Emily is the Director of Homeownership for Champlain Housing Trust. Here's what she had to say:

I read with interest the article in the June 5 paper about the housing market ("Vermont's housing market stuck in a holding pattern"). There is a lot of wariness about homeownership these days, but I wanted to share some good news for those still hoping to purchase a home of their own.

Eight sources of funds totaling $6.2 million will help construct 25 new affordable rental units for seniors in Vergennes.

"This is exactly the kind of housing we should be building — not only does it meet the significant need for quality and affordable senior housing, but it does it in a very energy efficient manner," U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders says.

"This project is much more than housing.  It brings the elderly of the entire surrounding community together in their own senior center and enables them to continue to participate actively in the life of the community."

VHFA Research Analyst Leslie Black-Plumeau (left) has become the new Editor of the Agency's Housing Matters blog.

She takes over for Communications Coordinator Craig Bailey (right), who finishes his 10-year tenure with VHFA on July 15 to become a Web Developer at a Montpelier Internet marketing firm.

Housing Matters started in January 2002 as a bi-monthly electronic newsletter distributed via PDF. Craig converted it to a blog format March 17, 2008, to allow more flexibility in what the Agency published and when.

The pre-application deadline for the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development's (HUD) Emergency Homeowners' Loan Program (EHLP) is coming soon.

Homeowners who want to be considered for mortgage assistance need to complete the pre-application screening materials by July 22.

If there are more potentially eligible homeowners than funds available to assist them, these materials will be entered into a random selection process to pick those invited to complete applications for EHLP loans.

Owners who are selected to participate in the program may be eligible for up to $50,000 in mortgage assistance.