The Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging & Independent Living warns Vermonters recovering from Tropical Storm Irene to be "Vermont Smart" and protect themselves against fraud when hiring contractors:

Not Everyone Really Wants to Help

FOLLOW THESE STEPS BEFORE YOU HIRE SOMEONE TO CLEAR OR REPAIR YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY

Friday, December 2, 2011

8:30 AM – 3:30 PM

Sheraton Needham Hotel, Needham, MA

Featured Speakers:

Last  week (10/5), the Vermont Housing & Communities Show on CCTV Channel 17’s Live at 5:25 segment featured Jen Hollar of the Vermont DEHCD and was hosted by Mike McNamara of HUD's Vermont office.   They were joined by Deanna Frazier from FEMA and Carl Sherrill of the SBA.    The guests discussed actions taken to date by FEMA and the Irene Housing Task Force, short and long-term housing options, and where and how Vermonters can register for assistance. 

When surveyed recently by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, service providers chose availability of job opportunities, state and local budget cuts, and federal budget cuts as the top three most important challenges facing low-and moderate-income communities in New England. Access to affordable housing and home foreclosures rounded out the top five most frequently cited responses.

Review the survey results.