Three studies, commissioned by the Middlebury-based High Meadows Fund, found that warm homes in winter and cool homes in summer are within reach if Vermont streamlines the process of making efficiency investments.

“When we began this work, we expected homeowners’ biggest barrier would be finding the money to pay the upfront costs of energy efficiency improvements,” explained Gaye Symington, executive director of High Meadows. “Instead, we found the biggest barriers are the lack of understanding about the benefits and the multiple steps that trip people up before they get it done, she continued.

There's a new local survey of employers asking about housing’s availability, condition and affordability and its impact on their ability to attract and retain workers.  The survey was created by the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, the Vermont Association of Realtors, Vermont's Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development and the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation.

After one year of entering into a contract with the Agency of Human Services to cover the after-hours emergency housing assistance, more than 1,300 calls were received by Vermont 2-1-1.  Of these requests for after-hours emergency housing, 329 callers were eligible for housing assistance.  Alternate shelter was found for 451 of the remaining 1,015 callers who did not qualify for emergency housing.  The majority of requests for emergency housing are from single individuals.

Read more about Vermont 2-1-1.

Phil Holmes, long-time promoter of affordable multifamily housing at HUD’s Manchester office, died tragically last night in a motorcycle accident.

Through his many years of work with the Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont housing manager associations, Phil became a good friend to many owners, managers and agency staff.   Phil was a was strong advocate of HUD’s risk share insurance program and expansion of computer learning centers in HUD assisted housing.   He was also well known for his involvement with Northgate Apartments and support for resident control and ownership.

Sam Falzone, VHFA’s Director of Multifamily Programs, described his death as “a tremendous loss to the affordable housing community throughout northern New England.”