Vermont Housing Finance Agency

A consortium of Vermont housing and community development partners are assessing the Vermont landscape for off-site construction (including panelized construction), modular, and manufactured home initiatives. As local and state policy makers take steps to meet housing needs, the potential of advanced construction approaches continues to draw significant interest. Advocates point to benefits in terms of cost savings, labor, volume, climate and design and building standardization. If you are an emerging or established manufacturer in this area, please take this survey (https://lnkd.in/dUctwK9R) so we can accurately inventory current initiatives in Vermont. We would also like to learn more about how Vermont developers and builders are using off-site materials so encourage you to share reflections directly with VHFA’s Managing Director of Community Development Seth Leonard at home@vhfa.org. Read more on vhfa.org. https://lnkd.in/di2KA43J

The 2024 Statewide Housing Conference Planning Committee is thrilled to announce Heather C. McGhee as this year’s conference keynote speaker. Heather's message of racial equity and building thriving communities will kickstart a full day of innovation, solutions and opportunities in Vermont's housing space. Join us November 14. Early registration begins in August. Thank you to our Keynote Sponsor Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. https://lnkd.in/e26YYuMN

Exciting News! VHFA is thrilled to welcome Community National Bank (Vermont) as a participating lender. Their mortgage lending expertise will enhance VHFA’s efforts to expand Vermonter's opportunity to purchase a home, especially in the counties and communities CNB serves! All VHFA programs are offered through local participating lenders. To contact a CNB loan officer, please visit: https://lnkd.in/e6nK32Vt.

Meeting postponed: As communities continue to grapple with last week’s severe storm, VHFA is postponing our Qualified Allocation Plan outreach meeting scheduled for July 18th in St. Johnsbury. The meeting will be rescheduled for August 8th at 11:00am and we hope to be at the Catamount Arts Center.  Read more here: https://lnkd.in/ey_ePdjR

As Vermont recovers from another catastrophic July flood, the State of Vermont needs your help to assess damage and get resources to those who need it. If you suffered flood damage, please report it to Vermont 211 to help Vermont qualify for federal assistance and connect with services you need. Reporting flood damage may help Vermont qualify for assistance like FEMA relief for homeowners and SBA loans for businesses. The information will also be used to understand the scope of the damage so Vermont can advocate for additional help.

On Thursday, the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) Board of Commissioners awarded Vermont State Affordable Housing Tax Credits for developing rental and for-sale homes across the state. Once they are sold to investors, the credits will yield over $4.8 million in equity to fund construction and substantial rehabilitation of 246 rental and for-sale homes and support the statewide Manufactured Housing Downpayment Program for approximately 41 homes. This program provides downpayment assistance for Zero Energy Modular and energy-efficient manufactured homes. These homes will be developed by Champlain Housing Trust, Evernorth, Housing Trust of Rutland County, Randolph Area Community Development Corporation, Shires, Cathedral Square, Downstreet Housing & Community Development, and Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity. Read more at https://lnkd.in/eRW5Fiba

ICYMI, a recording of the NPR show "1A" with Jenn White focused on the challenges of Vermont's housing landscape is now available through Vermont Public. White was joined at a live recording in Essex Junction on May 1, 2024 by VHFA's Executive Director Maura Collins, Carly Berlin, Housing/Infrastructure Reporter for Vermont Public and VTDigger, and Nancy Owens, President at Evernorth. (For highlights, check out vhfa.org/news). https://lnkd.in/ePJ7-wju

VHFA is excited to announce University of Vermont (UVM) graduate student Casey Smith has been named the Summer 2024 Vermont Housing Fellow. The Vermont Housing Fellowship program is intended to provide the Fellow with valuable experience aiding her professional development. Ms. Smith will receive a financial stipend to analyze municipal zoning codes for the Vermont Zoning Atlas project. Ms. Smith is a Masters of Public Administration (MPA) candidate at UVM. She also works for the university’s Office of Sustainability as the Renewable Energy Projects Coordinator. She has a bachelor’s degree in studio art and a certificate for graduate study in community resilience and planning. She previously worked in the university’s Planning, Design & Construction office and maintains an interest in sustainable community development with an emphasis on renewable energy, smart growth planning, and green/adaptive reuse architecture. The goal of the Vermont Housing Fellow program is to cultivate interest among graduate students in Vermont-based affordable housing careers with a specific goal of growing the diversity of experiences and perspectives used when thinking about housing needs. The program provides students in Vermont and beyond with the opportunity to relate knowledge gained in the classroom to practical, real-world settings. The Agency plans to appoint a new student to the fellowship each semester.  VHFA is currently accepting applications for the fellowship for the Fall 2024. Please contact VHFA’s Human Resources Department (HR@vhfa.org) for more information. Candidates must be graduate students who live in Vermont and are enrolled in an accredited program. Internship course credits may be available through their university or through UVM's Public Administration program. For information about UVM credits, please contact Julie Starr at jstarr2@uvm.edu.    For more information on the VHFA Vermont Housing Fellow Program, please visit: https://lnkd.in/e6iDjTCW

Grateful to our partners at VT Agency of Commerce & Community Development for this recognition of VHFA’s 50th anniversary, celebrated in April. It’s no coincidence that collaboration with key partners such as the Department of Housing & Community Development was highlighted. Thank you for the recognition and here’s to the next 50!  https://lnkd.in/eqy8hUxV 

The Vermont Public Utility Commission will hold a public input session on the #CleanHeatStandard on June 6th, from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. The CHS has the potential to create a new funding stream for affordable housing providers to help invest in efficiency and make progress towards #electrification.