The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) is asking organizations to sign a letter to be sent to The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform.

The letter urges the Commission to adopt the principle that lower income people should not be harmed by its recommendations, and emphasizes smart investments to help low income people will strengthen the economy and the nation.

In June, NLIHC joined more than 100 national organizations in signing the letter, which was organized by the Coalition on Human Needs.

The Addison County Independent published a story today about the county's housing challenges.

VHFA Policy & Planning Manager Maura Collins, as well as our friends at Addison County Community Trust, NeighborWorks of Western Vermont and John Graham Emergency Shelter, are quoted in the piece.

Read the article online.

Even though the state’s economy is recovering by many indicators, economists project a continued decline in Vermont home prices and foreclosure rates hovering at an all-time high through at least mid-2011.

All states except North Dakota experienced home sales declines in January-March 2010 relative to 12 months earlier, according to Federal Housing Finance Agency repeat sales indices.

The extent of Vermont’s home price decline has been far less severe than most states. In fact, only seven states fared better when looking at the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s first quarter 2010 data.

Folks from VHFA, Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) and Housing Vermont recently joined residents and other guests in celebrating the completion of improvements to Pleasant Street Apartments in Enosburg Falls.

VHFA Chief of Program Operations David Adams is pictured speaking at the event.