The Housing Assistance Council (HAC) is presenting two free events in our region in August.

"Building Green for Rural Communities" is a day-and-a-half roundtable and tour taking place starting at 2 p.m. Aug. 11.

"Single-Family Housing Development" is a two-day event running Aug. 13-14. Sponsored by HUD, it's open to CHDOs and many CHDO-eligible organizations.

Both events are free and will take place at the Holiday Inn in Holyoke, Mass. HAC is offering up to $500 scholarships to organizations to help with travel and lodging.

Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) has received a World Habitat Award from UN HABITAT.

The United Nations agency, whose goal is to promote shelter for people worldwide, will present CHT officials with the award at its World Habitat Day event, Oct. 6 in Luanda, Angola.

UN HABITAT presents two such awards a year — one in the northern hemisphere and another in the southern — to recognize "practical and innovative solutions to current housing needs and problems."

News of the award was announced this morning at an event held at the Vermont Transit Bus Barns property on South Winooski Avenue, Burlington.

Saturday morning, on a vote of 72-to-13, the U.S. Senate passed the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (H.R. 3221).

The Senate chose not to amend the House-passed bill. It now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it.

You can read more about the act at the House Financial Services Committee page or the Democratic Policy Committee page.

We have an immediate opening for a Financial Analyst in the VHFA Finance Department.

This is an hourly position, working 37¬? hours a week.

Read the full job description and learn how to apply.