Press Release: May 5, 2008
Contact: Gus Seelig, VHCB 802 828 5075
Sarah Carpenter, VHFA 802 864 5743
Vermont Named Finalist in Expansion of MacArthur Foundation Housing Initiative;
New Report Details Effects of Foreclosure Crisis on Rental Market
Montpelier - May 1, 2008 – The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation has selected a proposal by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency to compete for up to $5 million in new funding to support state rental housing preservation efforts. The Vermont agencies would use the funding to restructure financing, increase energy efficiency, and provide support services to frail elders and formerly homeless individuals. The funds would be targeted to preserve more than 8,000 private and non-profit owned rental apartments in 123 towns over the next ten years.
Many of these developments were originally financed with low income housing or historic preservation tax credit equity that guaranteed a 15-20 year period of affordability or with Section 8 Certificates that are due to expire within the next several years. Anticipating the potential loss of affordability in these apartments, the agencies are working together to refinance and convert the units to permanently affordable housing. With a nationally recognized network of nonprofit housing development organizations serving all corners of the rural state, Vermont has a strong track record in developing affordable housing.
Gus Seelig, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, said, “The affordability of 12,000 apartments is threatened in the next five years. It is critical that we take action to preserve our rental housing assets in smart growth locations around the state. Increasing energy efficiency in our rental housing stock will also be critical to maintaining affordability in the long run.”
A new report released today by Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies details the devastating effect the mortgage crisis is having on the rental market and proposes the development of a new and more balanced set of housing policy initiatives that would expand opportunities for renters and homeowners alike. [http://www.jchs.harvard.edu/publications/rental/rh08_americas_rental_housing/]
While Vermont had fewer sub-prime mortgages and consequently has suffered fewer foreclosures than other states, 29.4 percent of the state’s households are renters (nearly 72,000 households). In 2007 Vermont’s rental vacancy rate was the second-lowest in the country.
“This new report underscores that the demand for affordable rental housing is increasing at the same time that the supply of low-cost rental is declining,” said Jonathan Fanton, President of the MacArthur Foundation. “The debate on national housing policy must not exclude the more than 35 million renter households. We clearly need policies that honor the role of rental housing as well as homeownership. The diverse cities, counties, and states selected as finalists for MacArthur funding share a commitment to preserving and improving affordable rental housing and have offered ideas that we believe are creative and potentially very effective.”
Sarah Carpenter, Executive Director of the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, said, “Vermonters who rent are already under serious pressure as costs rise and would take a serious hit if we are unable to refinance thousands of affordable apartments that are due to lose federal subsidies or tax credit income restrictions. The MacArthur Foundation’s support would help us leverage other private and public funds in anticipation of refinancing and creating permanent affordability in units that would otherwise be lost as affordable housing resources.”
This year, affordability was preserved at the 336-unit Northgate Apartments in Burlington when ownership was transferred to the Northgate Residents’ Ownership Corporation, a non-profit consisting of a majority of Northgate residents along with community representatives. The cost to acquire and rehabilitate Northgate in 1989 was $21.67 million, comprised of state and federal funding and low income housing tax credit equity. In 2006, upon expiration of the tax credit compliance period, an additional $365,000 created permanent affordability. The replacement cost of a development this size today would be $80 million. Instead of being faced with displacement, residents who have lived here for decades are celebrating. According to board member Amy Wright, “It’s a little miracle that this is a $21 million resident-owned community and that Vermont has been able to make that happen.”
The MacArthur Foundation will provide a total of $35 million in multi-year grants and program-related investments (low-interest loans) to up to ten state and local governments that are demonstrating outstanding leadership through promising, high impact approaches to preserving and improving affordable rental housing. Individual awards, which will be announced in early 2009, will range from $250,000 to $5 million and must be used to design, demonstrate or scale up a significant preservation initiative. The 21 finalists announced today were selected from over 80 jurisdictions that applied. These grants and low-interest loans are part of MacArthur’s $150-million Window of Opportunity initiative, which seeks to preserve 300,000 affordable rental homes across the country. The Foundation also aims to stimulate policy reforms that reverse the loss of existing, affordable rental homes, enabling communities and rental housing owners to preserve at least one million units over the decade ahead.
___________________________________
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board is a state-funded agency making loans and grants for the creation of permanently affordable housing and the conservation of agricultural and recreational land, natural areas and historic properties.
The Vermont Housing Finance Agency VHFA was created by the Vermont Legislature in 1974 to finance and promote affordable housing opportunities for low- and moderate-income Vermonters. Since its inception, the Agency has helped approximately 26,000 Vermont households with affordable mortgages and financed the development of 7,400 affordable rental units.
The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking institution helping to build a more just and sustainable world. Through the support it provides, the Foundation fosters the development of knowledge, nurtures individual creativity, strengthens institutions, helps improve public policy, and provides information to the public, primarily through support for public interest media. With assets of more than $6.8 billion, the Foundation makes approximately $260 million in grants annually. More information is available at www.macfound.org.
March 17, 2008
WINDHAM HOUSING TRUST WINS NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Windham Housing Trust was awarded the James Leach National Achievement Award as the most outstanding rural non-profit for 2008 by the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). Connie Snow, Windham Housing Trust Executive Director, received the award in Washington D.C. on behalf of the organization on March 14th.
A Brattleboro, Vermont nonprofit organization, Windham Housing Trust (WHT) was honored for its commitment to rural community and economic development through the production of affordable housing solutions.
“We are very proud to present this award to Windham Housing Trust. Their work on behalf of residents in southern Vermont is an example for other groups to follow. Only by working together can we make affordable housing possible and create living, breathing communities where people can work and live. We applaud WHT for their efforts and wish Windham Housing Trust much continued success”, said NCRC President John Taylor.
National Community Reinvestment Coalition is an association of more than 600 community-based organizations that promote access to basic banking services including credit and savings, to create and sustain affordable housing, job development, and vibrant communities for America’s working families.
Windham Housing Trust was nominated for the award by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund (VHCB). In his nomination letter, VHCB executive director Gus Seeling wrote this about WHT: “Markers for success in Vermont include an ability to meet the needs of diverse rural communities, to serve the most vulnerable citizens, to restore historic buildings, and to support the revitalization of our town and village centers. WHT has been a consistent leader in building bridges of community support with local businesses, social service agencies, banks and funding agencies to create more inclusive communities across its service area.”
The nomination noted that Windham Housing Trust has taken on the revitalization of neighborhoods and rural village centers with great success, including historic buildings in small towns and villages such as Whitingham and Algiers. WHT’s work in Brattleboro has saved and revitalized historic neighborhoods adjacent to the downtown core. This powerful community development work has eliminated blight, revitalized neighborhoods, and acted as a catalyst for private investment.
In 2006 alone, more than $18 million dollars of WHT housing rehabilitation and construction work took place in Windham County, contributing to overall economic health. The local purchase of materials and supplies related to housing construction has a long lasting ripple effect, generating additional income, jobs and opportunities throughout the local economy.
“WHT has been among the pioneers nationally in utilizing shared equity homeownership, with 49 permanently affordable singe family homes in their portfolio. As administrators of low-income housing tax credits, WHT has been a reliable, consistent and creative partner at the forefront of Vermont’s success. A recent study of Vermont nonprofit housing developers showed WHT’s diverse portfolio to be extraordinarily well-managed, placing the organization first among Vermont non-profits in attending to and planning for its stewardship obligations to maintain its affordable housing portfolio,” wrote Seelig.
The James Leach National Achievement Award is named after Republican Jim Leach, who represented the 2nd district in Iowa for 30 years. Congressman Leach’s bipartisan leadership and ability to persuade and compromise contributed enormously to progressive legislation, including environmental protection, campaign reform, and debt relief for the world’s poorest countries.
Other NCRC award recipients at the March 14th award ceremony included James Rokakis, Treasurer of Cuyahoga County, Ohio who won the Henry B. Gonzalez Award. The NCRC 2008 Senator William H. Proxmire Award was awarded posthumously to Gale Cincotta, former Chairperson, National People`s Action Committee. The NCRC 2008 James Rouse Award went to The Miami Valley Fair Housing Center in Dayton, Ohio. The NCRC 2008 Color of Money Award was a tie between Gretchen Morgenson Reporter, New York Times and Kitty Pilgrim Anchor, CNN Money. And the 2008 National Community Reinvestment Award was presented to William Tisdale, President and CEO, Milwaukee Fair Housing Council.
A member-based nonprofit organization, the Windham Housing Trust creates a full spectrum of renter and owner-occupied housing opportunities for the residents of Windham County who are least served by the prevailing market. Since its founding in 1987, WHT has created more than 450 safe and affordable homes and apartments. Its work has helped to revitalize neighborhoods, preserve historic properties, and enhance economic vitality throughout the region. For more information about the Trust or its programs, please visit www.windhamhousingtrust.org or call director Connie Snow at 802-254-4604 extension 113.
EPA Honors Housing Group
for Promoting Conservation
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff
BRATTLEBORO REFORMER
Saturday, December 1, 2007
 |
| Winners of the 2007 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement include the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, the Housing Authorities of Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington, the town of Barnstable, Mass., and the borough of Harlem in Manhattan, N.Y. |
BRATTLEBORO -- A Vermont conservation group has been recognized by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency for its work in promoting environmentally sensitive development.
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board was one of five organizations across the country that were presented with the awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 14.
The other four winners represented housing and conservation groups in cities and VHCB was the only group this year to win for its state wide work in promoting compact housing development as well as preserving farm land, natural areas and historic buildings.
"This is recognition from the EPA for the smart growth policies of VHCB," said Gus Seelig, the group's executive director. "It was also an acknowledgment to the state of Vermont for its long term policies and 30 year commitment to preserving the working landscape. The EPA recognized the state's willingness to invest in smart growth by making grants and loans available."
VHCB was started in 1987 when the Legislature earmarked $3 million to help the state contend with the rapid development that the group's supporters thought was threatening the state's landscape.
Working with nonprofit organizations across the state, VHCB provides funding for both housing developments and conservation initiatives that protect farmland and forests.
VHCB has partially financed the Latchis Theater, projects with the Windham Housing Trust and land acquisitions with the Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association.
Seelig said VHCB won the EPA award for its unique approach of funding both growth and conservation. The group makes investments in the state's future while preserving the quality of life that makes Vermont appealing in the first place.
"We view the issues of growth and preservation as complementary rather than competitive," Seelig said. "A lot of people think housing and conservation are at odds but the EPA recognized our success and they are saying that other states ought to look at this model and see how it can be applied to their efforts."
The other winners of the 2007 National Awards for Smart Growth Achievement include the Housing Authority of Portland, Ore., the Seattle Housing Authority, the town of Barnstable, Mass., and Manhattan, N.Y.
Windmill Hill Pinnacle Association secretary Bev Major said VHCB has been the most important funder of the group's work to preserve the ridgeline in Westminster West.
The group has acquired about 1,500 acres and developed 14 miles of trail along the area of the Pinnacle, the highest point on Windmill Hill. "They have provided the major funding for our purchases," Major said. "We never would have been able to do this without their help."
Major said the group's move to link conservation and development should be replicated across the country. By bringing the two together, she said, the two movements can work together and not compete for funding and recognition.
"It has been great for the state of Vermont," Major said. "It has absolutely worked."
"We have to continue to make our communities special places where people want to live and do it in a way that keeps what is special about Vermont, special," said Seelig. "That's what this acknowledgment is all about."
Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or 802-254-2311, ext. 279.
_____________
Details on each of the winners: epa.gov/smartgrowth/awards/sg_awards_publication_2007.htm
Policies and Regulations: The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), an independent, state-supported agency, promotes compact settlements surrounded by countryside. VHCB pursues affordable housing, land conservation, and historic preservation initiatives under a single program that balances competing priorities. Since 2002, VHCB investments of $84 million have supported the development of more than 3,000 affordable homes, the preservation of 44 historic buildings, and the conservation of more than 37,000 acres of farmland, natural areas, and recreation lands.
The awards were presented by Benjamin H. Grumbles, EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, on behalf of EPA’s Office of Policy, Economics and Innovation (OPEI). OPEI is home to the Agency’s smart growth program which, in addition to presenting the annual awards, conducts research and policy analysis on growth issues, provides direct technical assistance to state and local governments, delivers outreach and public education, and collaborates with partners in the Smart Growth Network (www.smartgrowth.org), a coalition of more than 30 state and national organizations focused on development issues.
November 6, 2007
Towards a Shared Vision: Challenges for the Next Decade
VHCB 20th Anniversary Conference Draws Over 200 Concerned Citizens;
Plenary Session Addresses Intersection of Land Use, Energy, Climate Change, Economics and Social Justice;
Awards Recognize Outstanding Towns, Individuals and Organizations
Montpelier -- At a conference in Montpelier attended by more than 200 community leaders and activists, legislators, social service providers, municipal officials and staff of nonprofit housing development and conservation groups, attendees considered the increasing impact of land use, energy, climate change, economics and social justice issues on community development and conservation efforts.
Darby Bradley, President Emeritus of the Vermont Land Trust, provided conference participants with the context of the housing and conservation advocacy that resulted in the establishment Vermont Housing and Conservation Board 20 years ago and encouraged the assemblage to "create new partnerships, broaden our alliances, and seek out new opportunities to work toward shared goals."
A plenary session was moderated by former (and original) VHCB Chair, Attorney Rob Woolmington of North Bennington and featured speakers Jane Difley of the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Richard Cowart, energy consultant and former chair of the Vermont Public Service Board and affordable houisng and community development consultant, John E. Davis.
Conference participants participated in workshops and field trips followed by an awards ceremony and reception at the Vermont College campus. |
Attorney Rob Woolmington of North Bennington, former VHCB Chair, moderated the plenary session speakers Jane Difley of the Society for Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Richard Cowart, energy consultant and former chair of the Vermont Public Service Board and affordable housing and community development consultant, John E. Davis.
text of Darby Bradley's Charge to the Conference |
Awards were presented in the following categories (see press releases below):
Community Stewardship: Town of Bradford and John E. Davis;
Welcome to the Neighborhood: City of Burlington and Town of Manchester;
Outstanding Partnership: Tiffancy Bluemle, Vermont Works for Women and Attorney Robert Gensburg;
Mollie Beattie Award: Darby Bradley |
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 16, 2007
CONTACT: KAREN FREEMAN 802 828 5067
Award Recognizes Town of Bradford for Community Stewardship Efforts
At a conference on November 6, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board presented the Community Stewardship Award to the Town of Bradford, recognizing the town’s efforts to revitalize affordable housing in historic buildings and to conserve agricultural and recreational land and natural areas. Among the town representatives accepting the award were Andrew Dorsett, Town Administrator, Nancy Jones and Ed Wendell of the Bradford Conservation Commission.
With guidance and inspiration provided by the Bradford Steering Committee, led by Marvin Harrison, and administrative support from Town Administrator Andrew Dorsett and the Town Selectboard, seven run-down apartment buildings have been redeveloped to create 29 safe, attractive, and affordable homes for families. The Central Vermont Community Land Trust and Housing Vermont, nonprofit developers of this $7.4 million project, were supported by the town throughout the project development, as well as by downtown businesses and nearby neighbors whose lives were somewhat disrupted by the construction activity. The rehabilitation of these formerly distressed properties that are concentrated along the southern gateway into town is a welcome change.
Fifteen years ago the town conserved the summit of Wright’s Mountain—the highest point in Bradford. This was the first of several conservation projects successfully completed through the partnering of landowners, the Bradford Conservation Commission, the planning commission and selectboard, conservation-minded citizens, the Upper Valley Land Trust (UVLT), and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board. With the conservation of Devil’s Den and the Davis Forest in the last two years, the town added acreage adjacent to Wright’s Mountain. Field trips to the conserved lands have been integrated into the school curriculum; the forestland is an economic resource that is sustainably harvested by the town.
Farming remains an important part of community life, and the conservation of the Chipman and Hatch farmland will help insure that productive farmland continues to contribute to Bradford’s agricultural economy and tradition. The protection of almost 800 acres of upland forest by the town and close to 1,200 acres of productive farmland by the UVLT in the Waits River Watershed has meant more than conserving land.
According to Conservation Commission Chair Nancy Jones, “by protecting its natural resources, the town is protecting their quality of life, promoting healthy lifestyles and fostering economic development that prospers in harmony with healthy ecosystems.”
The passion, persistence, patience, and creative problem-solving of its citizen volunteers along with community education and fundraising activities heavily supported by local businesses and residents, from pie and calendar sales to taxpayer contributions, have all been key to Bradford’s successes.
The following individuals are particularly recognized for for all they have done for the conservation of land in Bradford: John and Melody Loschiavo, Nancy Jones, Ed, Angela and Vinny Wendell, David Chipman, Jenny Copeland and Robert Miller Bradford has much to be proud of for its forward-looking and balanced efforts to revitalize its community, create affordable housing, and to conserve natural areas, agricultural and recreational lands, and historic properties.
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board presents the Community Stewardship Award every five years; previous recipients are the towns of Newbury/Wells River and Brattleboro.
BURLINGTON RECEIVES HOUSING AWARD RECOGNIZING THE CITY’S LONG RECORD
PROMOTING AFFORDABLE HOUSING AND A DIVERSE LOCAL ECONOMY
Burlington, VT, November 9, 2007 - The City of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) was recently given the “Welcome to the Neighborhood Award” by the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB). The award, which was received by CEDO Director Michael Monte and Housing Director Brian Pine, was presented at a Montpelier conference on November 6 celebrating the VHCB’s 20th anniversary.
The City was recognized “for developing initiatives and programs to promote permanently affordable housing, demonstrating leadership in policy development and implementation, and for welcoming workers from all sectors of our economy.” In announcing the award, VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig proclaimed that “this community is a key part of our success with meeting the housing needs of low-income Vermonters over the past 20 years. They pioneered perpetually affordable housing and laid the foundation upon which Vermont has built a nationally renowned housing policy."
VHCB Housing Programs Director, Polly Nichol, added, “Burlington started Vermont’s first community land trust, is the only community to require affordable housing in all new developments, and enacted ordinances to protect the most vulnerable members of our community. They have truly been an inspiration to all of us in the affordable housing field.”
“Burlington has pursued an activist municipal housing agenda for more than 25 years to ensure that low and moderate income community members share in the benefits of living here,” said Burlington Mayor Bob Kiss. ”While there’s more work to do in order to guarantee access to safe, decent and affordable housing for everyone, we should be proud of our efforts and our results. Recognition by our colleagues at VHCB confirms a belief that local government can make a real difference in the lives of people by working together with an experienced and effective nonprofit sector and supportive business community."
“Burlington continues to win recognition for its outstanding quality of life and this award highlights the importance of making a place in the community for folks who are often left behind by the economic mainstream," said CEDO Director Michael Monte. He added, “CEDO has enjoyed broad support for its housing programs and policies from across the political spectrum - with the strong spirit of collaboration, we share the credit for this award with a caring and compassionate community that has supported our housing agenda for over 25 years.”
For more information about CEDO’s housing programs and policies, visit their website.
TOWN OF MANCHESTER PRESENTED WITH WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD AWARD
November 6, 2007 - The Town of Manchester was presented with the "Welcome to the Neighborhood" award from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board for implementing zoning changes including a density bonus for the development of permanently affordable housing, demonstrating leadership in policy development, and for welcoming workers from all sectors of the economy.
Manchester Planning Director Lee Krohn said, "It's no secret that housing prices have escalated dramatically in recent years, at a rate far beyond rises in household income. It's a very real problem not just in Manchester, but throughout Vermont and many other states. Since the Town adopted its affordable housing bylaw back in 1991, over 45 permanently protected affordable homes have been built or approved in Manchester."
The developments constructed under the affordable housing bylaw include Manchester Knoll, with 20 apartments close to the Manchester Center shopping district. The majority of local jobs are in the retail and service industries, paying annual wages less than $20,000. Affordable apartments like those at Manchester Knoll enable people with roots in the community to stay there even as housing costs continue to rise. A second development with 16 apartments, Manchester Commons, was completed in 2004.
Congressman Peter Welch
United States House of Representatives
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 10, 2007
CONTACT: Andrew Savage
202.226.8346 (o)
202.577.3483 (c)
Landmark Affordable Housing Bill Passes with Small State Minimum,
Adopts Vermont’s Successful Model
Washington, DC – The U.S. House passed the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to improve housing affordability in Vermont and across the country.
The National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007, H.R. 2895, will provide a projected $800 million to $1 billion in funding for states and local communities to distribute grants to organizations, agencies, non-profits, or for-profits that demonstrate the capacity to build and rehabilitate affordable housing. It will provide funding to build or preserve an estimated 1.5 million new affordable units over the next 10 years.
“One of the biggest challenges facing too many working Vermonters is finding decent and affordable housing for their families. This legislation provides critical federal support to local communities to help meet this challenge head on and put affordable housing within the reach of millions of Americans,” said Welch.
Welch worked with Financial Services Chairman Barney Frank to assure that small states receive a minimum level of funding under the distribution formula. At Welch’s request, Frank added the guarantee that every state will receive at least .5 percent of the total funds available.
The National Housing Trust Fund is modeled after successful state programs like Vermont’s Housing Trust Fund and was first championed in Congress by Senator Bernie Sanders while serving in the U.S. House.
In 1987, Welch was an original sponsor of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Trust Fund Act, which has generated over 8,500 units of affordable housing statewide since its inception.
Gus Seelig, executive director of the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, said “It is great to see Congress and Representative Welch making this significant commitment to improve access to affordable housing. This legislation will provide a significant boost to the good work already being done here in Vermont.”
Welch believes Vermont must continue to aggressively address housing affordability, noting that 67 percent of Vermont’s households have incomes below what is needed to afford the median price of a single family home. For renters, 60 percent of Vermonters have jobs that pay less than what is required to afford the average two bedroom apartment.
This legislation will comply with Pay-go rules adopted by the House and requires no new taxes. The fund is financed by new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac contributions and additional revenue generated by proposed reform of the Federal Housing Administration.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Ron Rupp, VHCB 802-828-2912
Date: September 18, 2007
Vermont Wins $5.8 Million to Reduce Lead Paint Hazards
20% of Vermont Children Are Affected by Lead Exposure
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) and the City of Burlington’s Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) have won grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to reduce lead-based paint hazards in the homes of low-income residents throughout Vermont. VHCB is being awarded $3,000,000 to perform lead hazard control in 230 housing units statewide, while CEDO will use $2,865,629 to make 180 eligible Burlington housing units lead safe.
Senator Leahy said, “We wouldn’t take no for an answer, and I’m delighted we finally got to yes with HUD for this funding. Our lead removal efforts are among the most successful in the entire country, and these funds are essential to this work. Vermont has the seventh-oldest housing stock in the country, and in each of the last five years 300 of our children have been stricken with lead poisoning. Burlington alone has a childhood lead poisoning rate that is more than double the national average. Significant lead paint hazards are characteristic of the deteriorated condition of many of our oldest homes and buildings. These funds will allow the City of Burlington and VHCB to continue their top-notch programs to make the homes of low-income children safe from the dangers of lead-based paint. I’m proud of VHCB and the City for making children’s health such a high priority.” Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and of its subcommittee that oversees HUD’s budget.
Senator Bernie Sanders said, “I am delighted that the City of Burlington and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board will be receiving this HUD grant to remove lead paint from homes and apartments. Lead paint is responsible for terrible things happening to children and I'm glad that the City of Burlington and the state intend to be aggressive in addressing this issue.”
Although recent press reports have focused on lead paint on toys made in China, deteriorated lead paint and contaminated dust in the home are the primary causes of lead poisoning in children. The hazards posed by lead-based paint are found throughout Vermont and are not confined to low-income families or neighborhoods. Lead poisoning in children can reduce IQ, cause learning and behavior problems, and impair hearing. Children who have elevated blood lead levels often experience attention deficits, hyperactivity, and neurological problems. At higher exposures, lead can damage a child’s kidneys and central nervous system and cause anemia, coma, convulsions and even death.
A report released this year with the results of a yearlong study of lead poisoning in Vermont outlines priorities for reducing lead hazards to Vermont’s children and citizens. Based on the findings of the report, “Get the Lead Out of Vermont,” and the latest medical research, the Vermont Department of Health has lowered the State’s threshold level of concern for lead in children’s blood from 10 to 5 micrograms per deciliter. One of every five Vermont children tested has levels at or above 5 micrograms per deciliter, underscoring the fact that lead poisoning remains the number one environmental threat to young children.
“VHCB is excited to be able to continue this very important program,” said Gus Seelig, VHCB’s Executive Director. “Lead poisoning is a preventable condition,” added Seelig, “and our program provides the funding and know-how to make homes safe, conducts outreach and community education, and trains property owners and contractors to use lead-safe work practices.”
Mayor Bob Kiss said, “Every child deserves to live in a safe home. With this grant, the Burlington Lead Program has the resources to make that a reality for nearly 200 low-income families over the next three years.” The Mayor added, “With this new grant HUD recognized that Burlington possesses all of the ingredients for continuing one of the nation's most successful lead hazard reduction programs.”
CEDO Director Michael Monte said “With this new HUD grant, we are now able to continue our progress moving Burlington closer to becoming a truly lead-safe city. Preventing more children from getting lead poisoning has far-reaching benefits to our entire community—children, families, neighborhoods and schools all benefit when we make Burlington a safer place to grow up.”
The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has reduced lead-based paint hazards in over 1,900 housing units since establishing their Lead Program for the State of Vermont in 1994. CEDO, which launched the Burlington Lead Program in 2004 with a $1.5 million HUD grant, has made over 90 homes lead safe and has dozens more awaiting the word on this grant. Both CEDO and VHCB operate some of the most effective HUD-funded lead programs in the nation and demand for assistance has consistently outpaced available funding.
For more information about the Burlington Lead Program, please call 865-LEAD or visit http://www.cedoburlington.org/housing/housing_programs.htm#Burlington_Lead_Program. Outside of Burlington, call the toll-free VHCB lead hotline at 1-800-290-0527 or visit www.vhcb.org.
For more information on Vermont’s lead paint laws, reducing hazards in the home, and general lead paint safety, visit www.LeadSafeVermont.org or contact Jenny Samuelson in the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at the Vermont Department of Health (1-800-439-8550). A copy of the report “Get the Lead Out of Vermont” can be downloaded from the website: http://www.atg.state.vt.us/display.php?smod=218
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 10, 2007
Contact: Francis Sharpstene, 828-3253
Vermont Community Stewardship Program Closes the Service Year
The Vermont Community Stewardship Program (VCSP) will hold a closing ceremony on August 15th at Silver Lake State Park in Barnard to mark the end of the 11-month term of service for 31 AmeriCorps members serving with non-profit organizations throughout Vermont.
VCSP is a statewide AmeriCorps project of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. The program places AmeriCorps members with affordable housing development and land conservation organizations around Vermont. The members provide programming and assistance to the homeless, to residents and youth living in affordable housing developments, and to potential homebuyers. Members serving with conservation organizations provide youth programming and environmental education and perform stewardship on trails and reserves around the state.
The full-time members began their 11-month term of service in September 2006, each completing at least 1,700 hours of service. VCSP members work with organizations such as the Nature Conservancy, the Green Mountain Club, the Committee on Temporary Shelter, Homeshare Vermont, several community land trusts and many others.
This is the 9th year that VCSP has operated as an AmeriCorps* State Program. To date, VCSP members have mobilized over 9,000 volunteers who have logged 68,000 hours (equal to another 40 full time members!), provided a safe, enriching environment for over 24,700 youth, provided services for over 5,000 homeless individuals and families, repaired and inspected approximately 400 units of affordable housing, stewarded approximately 45,000 acres of land, built 10 playgrounds, cleaned up dozens of neighborhoods, and planted over 90 community gardens.
The closing ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. There will be a host of speakers, the presentation of certificates signed by Vermont Governor Jim Douglas, and a chance for members to share memorable experiences. Members will be presented with gifts generously donated by Chelsea Green Publishing, the Cesar E. Chavez Foundation, Vermont Life Magazine, The Vermont Country Deli, and Smugglers Notch Resort. Following the presentation will be a catered lunch and an afternoon of recreational activities.
The Vermont Community Stewardship Program is currently recruiting new members for the 2007-2008 service year. Participants sign on for an 11-month period of service beginning September 24, 2007. A living stipend, education award, health insurance and child care are provided for eligible applicants. For more information, call 828-3253 or visit the website, www.vhcb.org/vcsp.html
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2007
Contact: Gus Seelig Executive Director,
Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - 828-3251
Hannah Pelchar, AmeriCorps Member - 476-4493
 |
|
AmeriCorps member Hannah Pelchar is going door-to-door distributing free compact fluorescent light bulbs to residents of affordable housing developed by the Central Vermont Community Land Trust. Smart Glow, the energy-saving initiative sponsored by Efficiency Vermont and the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board, will provide thousands of free bulbs to households statewide. |
AmeriCorps Members Distribute Energy Efficient Light Bulbs
Affordable Housing Developments Incorporate Energy-Saving Construction and Management Practices
In the pilot program for Smart Glow, an energy-saving initiative, AmeriCorps member Hannah Pelchar is delivering compact fluorescent light bulbs door-to-door in rental housing owned by the Central Vermont Community Land Trust, a nonprofit housing development organization. Hannah explains to residents the benefits of switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescents and provides several light bulbs to each household.
While visiting with residents at the Winooski River Apartments in Montpelier this week, Hannah said, “I’ve enjoyed talking with the residents and at the same time offering free, money-saving light bulbs. Each of these bulbs should last for 5 years, maybe longer, depending on how much it’s on. We’re introducing residents to the benefits of switching over to compact fluorescent bulbs with the hope that they will consider purchasing them in the future.”
Consumers who switch from incandescent light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs can typically reduce electricity use for lighting by about 65% without reducing light levels. With an average life of 10,000 hours, the screw-in compact fluorescent bulbs last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs, resulting in dramatically lower replacement costs over time.
The light bulb distribution effort will be spearheaded by AmeriCorps members who serve with the Vermont Community Stewardship Program, an AmeriCorps National Community Service Program of the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board. The bulbs are provided by Efficiency Vermont, the agency working statewide to reduce electrical energy use by consumers and businesses.
Earlier this year, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency collaborated on a statewide energy survey of affordable housing developments in nonprofit and private ownership. The developments with the greatest energy consumption were targeted for in depth energy assessments. The assessments yielded thermal, electrical and water-related energy savings recommendations.
Building on the results of the energy assessments, Efficiency Vermont expects to supply a limited number of compact fluorescent light bulbs for use in these same developments during 2007 and 2008 with the goal of changing out light bulbs in hard-wired fixtures and providing residents with bulbs for use in tenant-owned fixtures.
According to Karl Goetze of Efficiency Vermont, “If the residents in at least 50% of the apartments change to the energy saving light bulbs, the savings could be in the range of $50,000-$70,000 annually, depending on the average number of hours the lights are in use. We are excited about this opportunity to help Vermonters make smart energy decisions.”
Energy savings would accrue to both residents and affordable housing providers. In developments that are master-metered, the savings would go to the affordable housing providers; in units with utility allowances, residents would realize the savings, and the utility allowance would be able to cover a larger share of the true energy costs.
Since 1991, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, public financers of affordable housing developments statewide, have applied energy efficiency standards to new construction and housing rehabilitation proposals. The standards specify the use of appliances with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR label, weatherization and insulation procedures, and water saving faucets and shower heads, among other measures. Using funding from the Department of Public Service, VHCB assists with the costs of energy audits prior to rehabilitation.
In 2005, Vermont’s first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) affordable housing development was completed by Housing Vermont and the Champlain Housing Trust. Waterfront Housing in Burlington, with views of Lake Champlain, won a national award from Home Depot for energy savings and environmentally green construction. The 40 apartments feature hardwood flooring manufactured and extracted within 500 miles of the site; state of the art storm water runoff treatment systems; advanced heating and cooling systems and direct line of sight to daylight for over 90 percent of occupied space.
The Central Vermont Community Land Trust and Housing Vermont developed the 36-unit River Station Apartments in 2006. This new construction multi-family rental development achieved a 5 Star Energy Rating.
The Vermont Community Stewardship AmeriCorps Program is currently recruiting new members for the 2007-2008 service year. Participants sign on for an 11-month period of service beginning September 24, 2007. A living stipend, education award, health insurance and child care are provided for eligible applicants. For more information, call 828-3253 or visit the website, www.vhcb.org/vcsp.html
July 27, 2007
Vermont Housing & Conservation Board Awards Funding
for Purchase and Rehabilitation of Armory Square Apartments
At a special meeting on Thursday, July 26, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded $1,675,000 for the acquisition and rehabilitation of Armory Square apartments in downtown Windsor by the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust and Housing Vermont.
VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig said, “The board appreciated the leadership shown by Windsor citizens and leaders. They convinced the board of the critical need to address the conditions at Armory Square. Several of our board members visited Armory Square and saw first hand the blighting impact of current conditions for both the residents and the community as a whole.”
Presenters at the board meeting included local legislator Donna Sweaney who called Armory Square “such an important project for Windsor economically and socially, really in every regard.” She noted that Armory Square has been a struggle and said she is praying and hoping that conditions there will improve.
Town Manager Don Howard has been working with Armory Square residents over the last three years. He said he believes the returns to the community as a result of the rehabilitation will reflect the investments of the town and citizens committed to a turnaround.
Jeff Staudinger, Executive Director of the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust (RACLT), has been meeting since January with state and local social service agencies to create a coordinated social service plan for the development. Under ownership by RACLT and Housing Vermont, a full-time resident manager and a resident services coordinator will be on site and various social services will be provided on site.
Southern Windsor County Regional Planning Commission Director Tom Kennedy added that, “Armory Square is the number one housing and economic development issue in the region.”
The historic, four-story brick building at the corner of Union St. and Route 5 in downtown Windsor currently consists of 72 one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments. Listed on the National Register of Historic Sites, Armory Square was built in 1922 as housing for workers of the National Acme Machine Company. The physical condition of the property has deteriorated in recent years and anti-social and illegal activities have increased at the site.
Two years ago, town officials began to work with Housing Vermont and the Rockingham Area Community Land Trust (RACLT) to explore the possibility of the nonprofits purchasing the property. As a result, Housing Vermont and RACLT have applied to multiple federal, state and private funding sources to acquire the property, to reduce the density from 72 apartments to 58, and to decrease the number of bedrooms in many of the apartments to reflect the demographics of the Windsor market. Handicapped accessibility will be increased, an elevator will be installed, and lead paint hazards will be addressed. The reconfiguration of the apartments will result in the creation of community space for offices, a community room, and areas in which social services can be delivered.
During the phased rehabilitation, current residents would be temporarily relocated. RACLT is developing a residents' steering committee and hiring a resident coordinator to insure that residents who want to change Armory Square will stay through the redevelopment and that their interests and opinions are taken into account. Given the high vacancy rate at the complex it is unlikely that households will be displaced as a result of the redevelopment, even given the reduction in the total number of units. According to the terms of federal regulations, any displaced households would be provided with relocation assistance and a Section 8 housing subsidy voucher to obtain other housing.
In addition to the application to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, the non-profits have submitted applications to the Vermont Community Development Program, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston’s Affordable Housing Program, NeighborWorks® America, and USDA Rural Development. The Vermont Housing Finance Agency has made an allocation of low income housing tax credits that will result in $7 million in equity and approved over $5 million in construction financing for the $16.5 million redevelopment. US Senator Patrick Leahy is seeking an economic development initiative grant for the project from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The applicants will also use historic rehabilitation tax credits as well as state tax credits to support the development budget. The Preservation Trust of Vermont and the Residential Energy Efficiency Program will be asked to support historic preservation and energy improvements. The town of Windsor will contribute $100,000 from its revolving loan fund.
April 26, 2007
Contact: Willa Darley Chapin, Federal Housing Programs Manager
Vermont Housing & Conservation Board - 828-5061
VERMONT EARNS TOP RANKING FOR FEDERAL AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAM
MONTPELIER — For the fourth consecutive quarter, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has named Vermont’s federally-funded HOME Program the most effective program among 51 participating jurisdictions in the country. The HOME program is administered by the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board under a contract with the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs. The top designation reflects the program’s efficiency in disbursing funds to produce rental housing affordable to the neediest Vermonters.
New developments utilizing HOME funds to create 75 affordable rental homes for families have recently been completed in Middlebury, Montpelier, Whitingham and Glover. HOME-funded developments underway include new buildings in Stowe, Enosburg, Middlebury, Townshend, South Burlington and Winooski, renovations in Brattleboro, Hardwick and Bradford, and conversion of former industrial buildings in St. Albans and Richford to create an additional 391 affordable homes. The majority of the developments provide family rental housing, with developments in Glover and Townshend creating senior and special needs housing, respectively.
Senator Patrick Leahy congratulated the HOME Program, “I’m very proud to learn that Vermont is the top performer among American programs in using these federal funds to create affordable housing for our most vulnerable citizens. This is an effective program that leverages state funding, helping Vermonters by improving communities and stabilizing rents in developments all over the state.”
The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB) awards HOME funds to nonprofit groups and private developers to increase the affordability of rental housing. VHCB uses state funds to support affordable housing development and supplements those awards with the federal HOME funds.
Vermont ranks among the top three jurisdictions in the country in serving the lowest income households, those with incomes less than 30% of median income. HOME Program funds help to bring housing costs within reach of families with incomes as low as $17,650 to $21,200 for a four-person household, depending upon the county. HOME funds are generally used in conjunction with several other funding sources such as deferred loans from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, Vermont Community Development Program grants, loans from the Vermont Housing Finance Agency or private bank loans, and tax credit equity raised by Housing Vermont
“This ranking by HUD is extremely gratifying. It is a tribute to both the community groups that have worked to rehabilitate and expand Vermont’s housing stock, and the staff at the Vermont Housing Conservation Board,” said Gus Seelig, VHCB’s executive director. “Their hard work and dedication to helping create affordable housing for Vermonters deserves the recognition it has received.”
The report analyzed Vermont’s HOME Program performance since 1992, and how well it has administered the $55 million it has received since then. The federal HOME funding has leveraged over $400 million in other funding.The HOME Investment Partnerships Program is the largest federal block grant to state and local governments designed exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income families. The HOME Program allocates approximately $2 billion annually, of which Vermont receives between $3 million and $4 million annually.
In Statewide Survey, Vermonters Say "Yes!" to Conservation
University of Vermont Center for Rural Studies
Conducts Survey for the Vermont Land Trust
An overwhelming majority of Vermonters cite the state’s natural environment and rural characteristics as the top reason for making it a unique place to live, according to a survey conducted by the University of Vermont’s Center for Rural Studies for the Vermont Land Trust. Read more.
View the full survey (PDF document)*
Salvaged Millwork Presents Lead Threat In the News, p. 4, Journal of Light Construction, June 2006
BEWARE: Older doors and windows that have been chemically stripped of paint can retain enough lead to poison children and adults when sanded. An article in the June 2006 issue of the Journal of Light Construction reports on the dangerously high levels of lead that can be present in salvaged architectural components. The article describes the experience of a family from Montgomery, Vermont assisted by VHCB's Lead Paint Hazard Abatement Program.
Salvaged Building Components: The Hidden Danger to You and Your Family
Staff of the Lead Paint Program have prepared a one-page sheet describing how to test salvaged building components for lead paint and warning about the importance of using lead-safe work practices when using salvaged building materials.
5/6/06
'Unique' 272-acre tract in Pawlet is Preserved
by Gordon Dritschilo, Rutland Herald Staff
Homer and Cecil Brown of Pawlet have sold their farm to the Nature Conservancy
for $335,900. They raised cattle there until last year.
PAWLET — The Nature Conservancy's newest acquisition looks a little different from the rest of Vermont.
The organization announced this week it had conserved a 272-acre parcel in the North Pawlet Hills. The group already has 467 acres on the hills, and this is the first acquisition on the west side.
Nature Conservancy spokeswoman Emily Boedecker said the land, which includes the flanks of Haystack and Middle Mountain, the northern edge of Burt Hill and all of Cleveland Hill, has a geography that makes it "unique" in Vermont.
"There are a number of southern-facing cliffs there and shallow soils," she said. "The combination of soil that can't hold as much moisture, and cliffs that shelter them, gives you dry areas. When you walk through the forest here, the canopy is open, you've got dry, twisty oaks. People have described it as a Mediterranean feel or even an African savannah feel."
Boedecker said those conditions mean the area is home to a number of rare plants, such as rattlesnake hawkweed, which was used by American Indians for medicinal purposes, and native members of the buckwheat family.
"My favorite has to be the wood lily," she said. "It's a gorgeous orange-red color and it's very open because of the petal structure. Apparently, it's the perfect flower to be pollinated by butterflies."
The land was owned by brothers Homer and Cecil Brown, who raised beef cattle there until last year.
"I broke my shoulder and I've got bad arthritis," said Homer Brown, 62. "We've wanted to do something so it wouldn't be built up."
The Nature Conservancy bought the land to keep it from ever being developed, one of the group's main missions.
The deal was funded with a $335,900 grant from the Vermont Housing Conservation Board. It was one of the largest grants ever received by the Nature Conservancy, Boedecker said.
"I think we've received one larger than this," she said. "The important thing is the VHCB funding has helped us with projects we've already done on the eastern face of the mountain."
The Nature Conservancy has been acquiring land in the area in 1998. But the Brown brothers have been talking about conserving their land — first with the Vermont Land Trust and then with the Nature Conservancy — since 1996.
"That's how it works sometimes," Boedecker said. "There's a lot of patience involved in land preservation work.
Homer Brown said his family has been on the land for three generations, and before closing the deal with the Nature Conservancy, he subdivided 17 acres for a nephew to use as a sugarbush.
"We wanted it to be the way it is forever," he said. "We hunt up there, go up and have a barbecue once in a while. It's a really nice place to go."
Read The Nature Conservancy's Press Release
Listen to the audio file on VPR's website:
Vermont Public Radio Interview:
Mitch Wertlieb interviews Rose Paul, Director of Science and Stewardship for the Nature Conservancy
COLCHESTER, VT (2006-05-03)
The North Pawlet Hills between Rutland and Manchester have been home over the years to peregrine falcons, rare plants, and chestnut oak trees. And today, the Nature Conservancy is announcing the acquisition of more than 250 acres of land on the western side of the hills, with a grant from the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board....
© Copyright 2006, VPR
Find a free MP3 Audio Player.
Friday, February 18, 2005
Vermont Housing Program Honored at Ceremony in Washington
VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig accepting the HUD Doorknocker Award from Roy A. Bernardi, Deputy Secretary at the Department of Housing & Urban Development. At right are Patrick Shattuck, VHCB Federal Housing Programs Director and Bob Paquin, HUD Community Planning and Development Director for the New England Region
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has recognized the State of Vermont for their outstanding rural rental housing program utilizing HOME Investment Partnerships Program funding. Vermont was one of five states and 15 local governments out of over 500 eligible applicants to receive the first national HOME Doorknocker Award for outstanding work in providing affordable housing to low-income and underserved people.
HUD Secretary Alphonso Jackson announced the awards to five state governments at an event on January 13th in Washington D.C. celebrating the 15th anniversary of the HOME Program. “Whether it's providing homeownership opportunities to lower income families looking to share in the American Dream or designing cutting edge affordable housing, these communities are leading the way toward building better communities and opening more doors to people who are most in need.”
The Vermont HOME Program is a partnership between the Vermont Department of Housing and Community Affairs and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB). VHCB administers the program for the state. Since 1992, VHCB has awarded $37.4 million in federal HOME funds to create thousands of affordable rental housing opportunities for Vermonters.
Senator Patrick Leahy, who has helped secure funding for the program said, “The HOME program is indispensable for its role in building and rehabilitating affordable housing in Vermont. The Vermont Housing and Conservation Board has done a wonderful job in making sure we get the best value out of every HOME dollar invested. I am proud of the work they do and am pleased that HUD has recognized their work with this award. This is an acknowledgement of what we have known all along: Vermont has one of the premier HOME programs in the nation and is dedicated to providing quality affordable housing to those in need.”
The Vermont award recognizes the role that HOME funding has played in preserving Vermont’s rural heritage through the rehabilitation of properties in town center and downtown locations, and especially for affordable housing in historic buildings.
Accepting the award at the Washington ceremony were Gus Seelig, VHCB’s Executive Director and Patrick Shattuck, Federal Housing Programs Manager for VHCB. Gus Seelig said, “Receiving the Doorknocker Award is a great honor. This recognizes the commitment that Vermont has made to preserving and providing safe, decent and affordable housing for low-income Vermonters in rural communities across the state. Our program demonstrates what a successful partnership between state and federal government can accomplish.”
HUD officials note that the flexibility provided by the HOME program can be used by state and local governments to meet the unique challenges of housing low-income families and expanding homeownership opportunities. These projects can serve as models for other jurisdictions throughout the country.
back to top
back to top
|
|
