In the year after the first non-profit tenant moved into the Nichols Education Building at First Baptist Church in January 2009, three more tenants moved in, filling up the available space. First, the Bennington Free Clinic opened up on the first floor of the building, located downtown. Next, Project Against Violent Encounters’ Family Time program moved into the building, and the Vermont Center for Independent Living and Easter Seals later followed suit. The offering of the previously unused building space is the result of a deliberate decision by the First Baptist congregation to reach out to the community as a form of mission.

The author of an economics newsletter says housing was more affordable in Vermont last year than at any time since 2003. The Vermont Economy Newsletter's annual analysis of housing costs says that the share of median income needed to finance payments on a "median priced" home in 2009 dropped to 15 percent, thanks to falling sale prices and mortgage rates.

Last week Vermont Works for Women and J.A. Morrissey completed the first phase of efficiency improvements on 60 of 336 units at Burlington’s Northgate Apartments, an affordable rental community located on the banks of Lake Champlain. The housing complex serves families across a range of incomes from below 30 percent of median up to 95 percent of median income. “This is the way to go — creating opportunities for women and others to get out there and learn these skills, work and earn a living, and cut costs and energy consumption at the same time.” Judy Reynolds, construction crew member, Vermont Works for Women.

The 42 units of Brookside Village are almost fully leased even as the developers of the affordable housing complex on Monday celebrated the just-completed construction. Champlain Housing Trust and Housing Vermont formed a partnership to build the 42 rental units on Morehouse Drive, off Malletts Bay Avenue. The $9.6 million development is just across the city line from Winooski.

A local affordable housing group reports that is has completed a comprehensive study of the town's housing needs and expects to finalize a report summarizing the findings in the spring. Last year, the Bennington Regional Affordable Housing Corporation (RAHC) was awarded a $50,000 grant to perform a feasibility study on the town's affordable housing to determine where improvements could be made. The commission formed a steering committee and partnered with the Pownal Affordable Housing Committee.John Broderick, executive director of the corporation, said that the goal is remove blighted homes and replace them with better ones, not add more housing to the town.

The DoARH, part of the Vermont Housing Data Web site, is a searchable database of all subsidized rental housing in the state — 12,826 units at last count. Users have been able to display individual properties on a map for a couple years. Yesterday’s upgrade now allows users to display multiple properties on a map.

A local affordable housing apartment complex is among four in Vermont set to receive solar water heaters. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., chairman of the Senate Green Jobs and New Economy Subcommittee, announced last week that the Applegate Apartments in Bennington is receiving part of a $500,000 earmark for the solar water heaters. Other apartment locations are in Barre, Brattleboro and Burlington.

After spending a year getting to know Vermont, John Broderick, the executive director for the Regional Affordable Housing Corp. of Bennington County, said that he believes the agency will be able to announce several new projects this year. "Despite a higher number of vacancies than usual, there's still a tremendous need for more affordable housing in Bennington County," Broderick said in a recent interview.

State officials are hoping members of the public will turn out to give their input about Vermont’s plans for spending millions of dollars in federal housing and economic development funds.The state is holding a series of Community Meetings as it drafts a 5-year Consolidated Plan required by the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for the approximately $12 million of federal funds Vermont receives from HUD annually. 

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The Vermont Department of Economic, Housing and Community Development (DEHCD) will release the 2010 Vermont Housing Needs Assessment at a press event Tuesday, Dec. 22. Copies of the report will be available online as PDF downloads soon. The study focuses on housing needs of the state’s lower-income households, and examines challenges facing special populations, such as seniors and Vermonters with extremely low-incomes.

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Use of grants from the Charlotte Affordable Housing Trust Fund got off to a slow start after voters created the fund in 2007, but the pace accelerated this week when the Selectboard awarded more than $45,000 in four grants to build affordable housing units.

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When Richard Moffi became state fuel assistance program chief last year, heating oil was approaching $5 a gallon. Today the price has dropped by half. So why is Moffi's office giving out more aid than ever?

Vermont's Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program just paid out $16.9 million to some 15,900 households, all while continuing to accept applications until the end of February.

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Brattleboro Reformer reports that "a year-old program trying to get Vermonters to tighten their homes against the winter chill is planning a series of workshops this fall. Button Up Vermont is asking towns around the state to host one of its home energy savings workshops. The program is planning to visit 100 towns but says slots are filling up fast. Town energy committees, educational centers, civic groups, are being asked to host two-hour workshops. Topics will include where buildings lose heat, how to seal air leaks and other conservation measures."

Those seeking information can contact Diana Peduzzi at 802 279-1708.

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Vermont Public Radio reports that Governor Jim Douglas has put forth a plan to cut money for Vermont's housing and land conservation program to save money for various human service programs. Under the Governor's plan, "all funding for the state's land conservation program would be frozen for one year," and the affordable housing budget would be reduced by $4 million. Douglas believes that new federal funds can help fill the $4 million gap. In response, "the Vermont Housing and Conservation Coalition says the proposal would derail dozens of important projects." Kenn Sassarossi with Housing Vermont noted that the "federal funds [would] come with restrictions that would force the cancellation of projects in Springfield, Troy, Newark, South Burlington, East Barre and Shelburne."

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The Brattleboro Reformer reports that "Vermont 2-1-1 saw a big increase in calls this past October, but is keeping up with the high demand for assistance." Vermont 2-1-1 is a service provided by the United Way of Vermont that is "equipped to help Vermont residents with almost any issue including child care needs, housing, food and drug and alcohol problems."Through the service, "Vermonters who pick up the phone and dial 211 will receive help when it comes to getting in touch with the local agencies that can assist them." Notably, "in October, 2,382 calls were made to Vermont 2-1-1, the second highest call volume ever in a given month. Referrals for basic needs (food, housing/shelter, material goods, temporary financial aid and transportation) hit an all time high and continue to run higher than any other category."

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