Image of Richard M. Williams, Executive Director
Image of Francis J. von Turkovish, Board Chair

From the Executive Director & Board Chair

After being in the affordable housing business for more than four decades, we at the Vermont State Housing Authority know how to juggle priorities and take on new challenges.  This past year, we made great strides in our efforts to provide good quality housing options for Vermonters. 

As our Section 8 programs continued to thrive in 2009, VSHA was awarded an additional 100 Family Unification vouchers, renewal funding for our Family Self-Sufficiency/Homeownership administration, and an additional 35 vouchers under HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing initiative.  After being closed for a year-and-a-half, we were delighted to reopen the waiting list for Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers on October 1st.

Under the Housing Preservation and Rapid Re-housing program (HPRP) and in our efforts to coordinate with Vermont’s housing and supportive agencies, VSHA entered into a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vermont Agency of Human Services to perform housing quality standards inspections of apartments for the HPRP program for grant sub-recipients. 

VSHA continues its work with The Housing Foundation, Inc. (HFI) to facilitate the Shelburne Woods Development.  The genesis of this project is the preservation of the Shelburnewood Mobile Home Park.   A joint venture between HFI and Green Mountain Development Group plans to preserve the existing community, develop additional housing options and achieve critical natural-areas conservation.  There is still much to do, but funding has been secured from the Vermont Community Development program, through the town of Shelburne; Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB), including HOME dollars; Low Income Housing Tax Credits through the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) and commercial financing. 

VSHA also helped facilitate the purchase of River Bend Apartments in Enosburg by River Bend Housing Associates.  This 30-unit complex for the elderly and disabled receives rental assistance provided by the Section 8 New Construction/Substantial Rehabilitation program.    Rehabilitation activities will be extensive and include many safety upgrades, accessibility modifications and a solar-powered hot water delivery system.  The property is managed by Alliance Property Management, Inc.

VSHA strives to achieve a high level of energy efficiency coupled with livability in all of the properties under our management.  Termed “high performance buildings”, they step significantly beyond minimum code and standard practices.  They are designed, built and operated for better economic, social and environmental results.  High performance buildings are healthy, efficient, cost-effective, durable and sustainably designed.

Along these lines, several projects are planned for next year.  To name a few: window replacements, thermal shell improvements, and where feasible, installation of solar hot water systems.  In addition, teaming up with VHCB, we hope to pursue extensive energy efficiency measures at several properties deemed to be “energy hogs”.  Insulation, new heating systems, programmable thermostats, and improved ventilation are just a few of the items to be retrofitted.

Financial assistance for much of this work is anticipated through incentive funding from Efficiency Vermont, loans from VHFA, a VHCB/VHFA McArthur Foundation grant, and through American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funding, administered by VHCB.

Given the fact that it generally costs twice as much to build affordable, energy efficient housing as preserving existing housing, Vermont’s efforts are critically important and serve as a model for other states throughout the country.

We are proud of our accomplishments for 2009 and look forward to a new year and the challenges ahead!