Senator Bernie Sanders was in West Rutland Friday to celebrate the conversion of two historic buildings-- Stanislaus School and a former convent that had been unoccupied for years--into affordable, energy efficient housing.  

Not only were historic buildings that already contained four apartments preserved, but 17 new affordable apartments were created with innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy design features.  The Housing Trust of Rutland County, led by Elisabeth Kulas pictured here with Sanders, developed the project. 

The first phase of renovations at the Forest Park apartment complex in Rutland are complete. Residents began moving into the 33 mixed-income apartments on Hickory Street on Thursday.  

Vermont Housing Finance Agency provided federal low-income housing tax credits for the project. A variety of other funding sources included the federal public housing program and  HOME program.

Read more in coverage by the Rutland Herald and WCAX.

What more do we need to know to improve housing and community development policy and practice?  The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) is formulating its research agenda for the next 5–10 years and would like your input. 

Think critically and provide input about the above question as it relates to four targeted topic areas:

Ten affordable apartments have been renovated and upgraded thanks to a variety of funders and construction professionals.   VHFA provided both construction financing and housing credits.   Improvements were made to the buildings’ drainage system and included constructing a new retaining wall—both of which were already tested by Tropical Storm Irene and held up well.