VHFA initiatives
Homeless planning activities
Homelessness is growing in our state, especially among working families. It is estimated that 1,600 Vermonters are homeless on any given night and that 229 of these people are children. In response to this, VHFA has become a leader in assisting the state in homeless policies and program planning.
The Continuums of Care are responsible for applying for the approximately $2 million in federal homeless funding available annually as well as the ongoing responsibilities of running those programs. The Interagency Council is charged with creating new and analyzing existing state policies and altering state funding and programs to respond better to meet the needs of people who are homeless. VHFA participates regularly in both efforts to ensure coordination. VHFA started regularly attending both the Chittenden County and the Balance of State Continuum of Care meetings in August 2003. This has lead to changes in how VHFA allocates tax credits to help providers possibly access new units created through that program.
Recognizing that VHFA has an involvement with all of the state housing resources and housing managers, VHFA's Executive Director Sarah Carpenter was named to the Interagency Council and helped draft the 10-year plan to end homelessness.
Learn more at helpingtohouse.org.
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Housing data resource
VHFA serves as an important resource for the collection, maintenance and analysis of housing related data.
In 2003, VHFA launched the Vermont Housing Data website. The site, which was created in partnership with the UVM's Center for Rural Studies, is a searchable database of every town, village, county and the state for over thousands of pieces of housing data.
It also is home to the statewide Directory of Affordable Rental Housing (DoARH), which is also searchable by any area and also by bedroom size, tenant population, unit restrictions, and funding source. The DoARH lists vacant units posted by housing managers. VHFA coordinated a major update of the DoARH data and is committed to keeping the listing accurate and up to date. The site is updated quarterly and available as a download.
VHFA monitors and uses Census Data in conjunction with Vermont Property Transfer Tax data to monitor the pulse of housing affordability around the state and through this new website will be able to increase the amount of detail and analysis available to individuals, municipalities and organizations. As a resource to communities in Vermont, there is a step by step guide to conducting a local housing needs assessment, as well as a home affordability calculator.
In 2007, VHFA redesigned the housing data website. As a result of this effort, the web site now conforms to the latest Web code and accessibility standards, streamlines access to the site's core content through a more efficient user interface, and has an appealing state-of-the art look.
Issue papers
2007 also marked VHFA's release of two additional papers in its issue paper series. "Housing and Vermont's School Enrollment" described demographic trends that illustrate how building new homes does not necessarily mean more children will enroll in area schools. This report also includes a guide for estimating the impact of demographic trends and new home building on specific communities.
The second report issued last year titled "Housing and the Needs of Vermont's Aging Population" details the growing challenge of providing for an aging population in a time of rapidly-rising costs and limited resources.
VHFA's issue paper series began in 2006 with the paper titled "Housing and the Vermont Economy." The report showed how the construction of 25 modest homes would mean 61 additional jobs, generating $2 million in annual wages and a $6.3 million boost for local businesses.
The report also includes a survey of 108 Vermont employers on the state's housing shortage. "The survey shows a significant level of concern among Vermont's employers about the cost and availability of housing in our state and the impact on their employees, their business and the economy as a whole," the study states
Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign
VHFA provides staff coordination for the Vermont Housing Awareness Campaign, a coalition of public and private interests and organizations working to address Vermont's housing shortage by promoting development of housing for all Vermonters.
The Campaign has used a combination of advertising, media outreach and public education efforts to build support, particularly among community leaders — business owners, faith community leaders, elected officials, and community activists in particular — for housing development. The Campaign works with the Housing Council each year to issue "Between A Rock and A Hard Place," a report that tracks the gap between wages and housing costs in Vermont.
The Campaign has been successful at increasing the visibility of housing as a public issue and has served as a model for similar efforts in other states as well as the national Campaign For Affordable Housing.
For information on the Campaign go to www.housingawareness.org.
