If the new National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, part of the housing relief initiative recently signed into law by President Bush, sounds familiar, it might be because the model for it was developed in Burlington more than 20 years ago.

This is the first of several quick bios we'll blog of speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference, Nov. 18 in South Burlington.

Read about other speakers scheduled to present at the event and register to attend at the conference Web site.

Bennington celebrated its newest affordable housing project with a ribbon cutting event at Downtown Crossing last Thursday. Approximately 40 people including VHFA Public Affairs Manager John Fairbanks attended the event.

Members of the Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire housing managers associations will come together for their triennial "Crossing the Line" conference this fall.

The event will be held at the Lake Morey Resort in Fairlee, Vt., Oct. 27-29, under the theme, "Housing: Are the Odds in Your Favor?"