VHCB Continues to Expand the Supply of Housing: Funding for 283 New and Rehabilitated Homes in 12 Towns

September 3, 2022

VHCB Continues to Expand the Supply of Housing: Funding for 283 New and Rehabilitated Homes in 12 Towns; $2.3M in State Funding Leverages $35.8M in Federal Funds

Montpelier - At meetings in May and June, the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board awarded funding to create and rehabilitate 283 new homes in 12 communities statewide. One fifth of these homes will serve households that have experienced homelessness. A total of $38,130,642 in state and federal funding commitments will result in new construction of 249 homes, rehabilitation of 34 existing apartments and shelter beds, and accessibility modifications to homes statewide. VHCB awarded $2,315,331 in state funding, which will leverage $35,815,311 in federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, the HOME Program, and the National Housing Trust Fund.

VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig said, “We salute our housing development partners around the state for their diligent efforts to use state and federal appropriations creatively, responding to Vermont’s housing crisis with ambitious proposals to house Vermonters at a wide range of income levels. Together with VHCB awards since the pandemic began, a total of $166.4 million in state and federal funds have been committed by VHCB to support 1,556 new and rehabilitated homes. Applications for an additional 178 homes in 5 towns will be considered by the Board in September. Well managed, permanently affordable housing will serve working families with children, households moving out of homelessness, seniors, and individuals living with physical disabilities.”

Shelburne –VHCB awarded the Champlain Housing Trust and Evernorth $7,076,452 in federal American Rescue Plan Act and State Fiscal Recovery (ARPA-SFR) funds, $1,156,152 in federal National Housing Trust Funds, and $841,704 in federal HOME funding to construct two energy-efficient buildings with 48 new apartments on Shelburne Road at the former location of Harbor Place. The new Bay Ridge Apartments will add to 20 apartments created in the existing buildings. Future development on the site will include twenty-six affordable single-family homes for sale. Working in partnership with the Agency of Human Services, Champlain Housing Trust has purchased the former Days Inn in Shelburne and has moved Harbor Place’s motel operations to that location.

Hinesburg - Cathedral Square and Evernorth will use $4,564,150 in ARPA-SFR funds and $867,936 in federal HOME-ARP funding to add 24 new apartments to the existing housing for older adults at Kelley’s Field. The new housing will serve households at various income levels and will include the addition of common areas and site improvements. Five of the new apartments will be set aside for people moving out of homelessness. A new community room designed to accommodate all residents, a telehealth room, and a walking loop will be added. Residents will have access to the SASH® - Support and Services at Home – program, to support positive aging in place. There is strong community support for the project and a long waiting list for housing for older adults in this area. Located in the town center of Hinesburg, the site is walkable to stores and services.

Barre - Downstreet Housing & Community Development and Evernorth will use $757,990 in VHCB funding, $788,928 in ARPA-SFR funds, and $240,000 in federal HOME funds to create 9 new apartments in a former elementary school on Humbert Street and to rehabilitate 18 apartments on Bromur Street. The new Granite City Apartments will be affordable to very low-income residents. Three of the apartments will be rented to households experiencing homelessness, with support services provided by Good Samaritan Haven, Family Center of Washington County, and Circle. The Barre Housing Authority will transfer ownership of the Ward 5 school to Downstreet at no cost and will provide rental housing subsidies for the new apartments. Construction is expected to begin next spring with occupancy projected in 2024.

White River Junction - Twin Pines Housing Trust will construct 18 one-bedroom apartments for people who have experienced homelessness using $3,633,850 in ARPA-SFR and VHCB funding and $300,000 in federal HOME funds. The development will be located adjacent to the Upper Valley Haven Shelter, which will provide services to the residents. A long waiting list of individuals seeking permanent housing will be served by the new housing.

Randolph –With $525,093 in VHCB funding and federal ARPA funds and $570,000 in federal HOME funds, the Randolph Area Community Development Corp will build 12 new apartments in he second phase of development at Salisbury Square, a downtown site where 14 apartments were completed in 2012. An additional $750,000 in federal funding secured by Vermont’s Congressional delegation will be used to develop a microgrid to support backup electricity to all 26 apartments, increasing reliability to the homes which are powered entirely by electricity and insulating the system from congestion, peak loading, and storm related service interruptions.

South Burlington – Summit Properties will use $4,850,000 in federal and state ARPA-SFR funding to create 71 affordable homes in two buildings in a mixed-income housing development with a total of 94 homes. O’Brien Farms is located 1.5 miles from the South Burlington Town Center, close to a bus stop and the bike path that links to the Library, City Hall, shops and the Elementary and High Schools. Twenty homes will be reserved for households moving out of homelessness with support services provided.

Bennington Residences for women recovering from substance use disorder will be developed in the historic Squire House using a VHCB award of $600,000 in ARPA-SFR funding. Shires Housing will renovate the building to create a 4-bedroom apartment, plus two 1-bedroom apartments, accommodating 6-8 adults and their dependent children, along with communal and program space. The Vermont Foundation of Recovery will manage referrals and recovery programming. The building is centrally located in Bennington’s downtown and close to a bus stop.

Hartford – With $6,629,948 in ARPA-SFR Funds and $586,332 in federal HOME funds, Twin Pines Housing will purchase a motel and convert it to create 40 studio and one-bedroom apartments. Eight rooms will serve persons experiencing homelessness with support services provided by the Upper Valley Haven. Four units will serve veterans, in partnership with the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. The motel is located 1.5 miles from downtown, near the VA Medical Center, and close to a local bus stop in an area where the town is planning and implementing improved pedestrian walkways. 

Bristol – Due to supply chain delays and increased construction costs, the Addison County Community Trust and Evernorth were awarded $1,304,981 in supplemental ARPA-SFR funding for Firehouse Apartments, a new development creating 20 apartments in three buildings that was awarded $1.6M in VHCB and federal HOME Program funding in May 2021.

Wolcott - Green Mountain Support Services will use $202,000 in VHCB funding to install four accessibility modules to two one-bedroom duplexes, creating four 2-bedroom units serving individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries, and/or age-related impairments. The permanent modules each have a bedroom and a bathroom. Support staff provide one-on-one support for clients residing in the transitional homes pending long-term placement in private homes. GMSS trains hosts to support clients with daily activities through their Shared Living Program.

Statewide - $845,000 in VHCB funding will be used by the Vermont Center for Independent Living to make accessibility improvements to homes and apartments occupied by individuals with physical disabilities, adding wheelchair ramps and making bathroom modifications to allow people to live independently and stay in their homes.

Montpelier – Downstreet Housing and Community Development will use a $40,000 award to study the feasibility of converting the parish house behind Christ Church into affordable housing.

Funding for 3 Shelters:

  • St. Albans - The Champlain Housing Trust (CHT) has acquired the historic Tim’s House, which has operated for many years as an emergency congregate shelter with support services serving people experiencing homelessness in Franklin-Grand Isle Counties. With $750,099 in state and federal ARPA-SFR funding CHT will rehabilitate the 16 private bedrooms and common areas and lease the building to the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, which will provide services to clients while CHT will manage the property. The Agency of Human Services will support programming, and fund operating and property management costs for the building.
     
  • Rutland – New Story Center, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, will add 7 beds to their shelter with $750,000 in ARPA-SFR funding.
     
  • Vergennes  – With $250,000 in ARPA-SFR funding, John Graham Housing & Services, a 36-bed shelter, will address critical needs for exterior repairs, accessibility, drainage and infrastructure.
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The Vermont Housing & Conservation Board supports the creation, preservation, and rehabilitation of affordable housing and the conservation of agricultural and recreational land, natural areas, forestland, and historic public properties. Other VHCB programs include the Vermont Farm & Forest Viability Program, VHCB AmeriCorps, and Healthy and Lead Safe Homes. To learn more, visit vhcb.org