October Meeting of Vermont Housing & Conservation Board
Vermont Business Magazine At its October meeting, the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board (VHCB) approved funding for a mix of housing projects, one historic preservation project, and the conservation of 76 acres of land.
Two awards to support emergency shelter in Franklin County were made to the Champlain Housing Trust (CHT), who will lease the properties to service providers. Building on well-established policies and practices for supporting homeless youth, the Spectrum Shelter will provide ten beds for emergency shelter and case management services to support youth aged 18-24 years. The second shelter project will serve individuals and families fleeing domestic and sexual violence; this project will accommodate an increase in demand for safe shelter and essential services with up to nine additional living quarters for the Voices Against Violence Program, run by Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.
“It’s crucial that Vermont invest in emergency shelters, especially for vulnerable populations like young people and those fleeing domestic violence,” said VHCB Executive Director Gus Seelig. “These individuals face unique and immediate risks, and having a safe place to turn to can be life-saving. This funding will help to provide housing, and the support and services that are crucial for long-term stability and well-being."
Other housing awards will help fund up to nine new single-family homes in Barre and Waitsfield, the creation of four units of affordable housing in Randolph for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD), the preservation and renovation of a total of 56 affordable rental apartments in Morrisville and St. Johnsbury, and improvements to infrastructure at a Hinesburg manufactured home community that serves 55 lots.
Funding for conservation projects will protect 15 acres of natural and recreation area in Stowe and 61 acres of farmland in Bradford, and an award was made for the historic preservation and rehabilitation of the Town of Salisbury’s Town Hall and Library to revitalize an important community hub that serves five towns.
Summary of October 2024 funding awards approved by VHCB, listed by county:
Addison County:
$210,000 historic preservation award to the Town of Salisbury for the rehabilitation of their Town Hall and Library to address accessibility and code issues.
Caledonia County:
$2,770,000 was awarded to RuralEdge for the redevelopment of five buildings with 18 housing units in the existing 28-unit Caledonia Housing Partnership.
Chittenden County:
$500,000 for water and wastewater infrastructure at the Sunset Lake Cooperative Hinesburg.
Franklin County:
$1,351,250 to CHT to create up to nine additional beds in St. Albans for those fleeing domestic and sexual violence.
$879,500 to CHT for the purchase and rehab of an existing property in downtown St. Albans to provide emergency shelter for youth aged 18-24.
Lamoille County:
$1,850,000 was awarded to Evernorth to support the acquisition of Copley Terrance, an existing 38-unit multi-family rental building in Morrisville, to preserve the affordable units.
$46,650 was awarded to Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (VDPR) for the conservation of 15 acres in Stowe.
Orange County:
$1,367,955 to Upper Valley Services, Inc. (UVS) for the acquisition and renovation of two buildings in Randolph Center to provide housing for individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities(I/DD) and a live-in care provider.
Washington County:
$600,000 award to Downstreet Housing & Community Development for the construction of up to four new affordable modular homeownership units in Barre.
$750,000 award to Downstreet to build five affordable new modular homeownership units on the site of the existing Mad River Meadows development in Waitsfield.
About the Vermont Housing & Conservation Board (VHCB)
VHCB invests in the construction of permanently affordable housing and conservation strategies that protect Vermont's agricultural land, forestland, historic properties, important natural areas, and recreational lands to ensure the economic vitality and quality of life of the State.
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