In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Vermont Housing Finance Agency (VHFA) announced it is awarding $100,000 in grants to the state’s nonprofit housing providers and public housing agencies. Another $20,000 will be donated to Vermont-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations selected by VHFA’s 38 staff members.
“The governor’s directive to Stay Safe and Stay Home highlights the critical role homes serve in keeping us safe and healthy,” said executive director Maura Collins. “The past two weeks have presented the organizations helping to house Vermont’s most vulnerable residents with unprecedented challenges. It is our hope that the resources VHFA can deploy quickly will ease the strain of the immediate needs facing them, and protect more Vermonters by helping stabilize their housing.”
The 20 selected organizations serve every region of the state and each provides affordable rental housing to low-income Vermonters. Each organization will immediately receive grants of $5,000 to support that work.
The organizations to receive the total of $100,000 from VHFA are:1. Addison County Community Trust
2. Cathedral Square Corp.
3. Champlain Housing Trust
4. Downstreet Housing & Community Development
5. Housing Foundation Inc.
6. Housing Trust of Rutland County
7. Lamoille Housing Partnership
8. Randolph Area Community Development Corp.
9. Rural Edge
10. Twin Pines Housing Trust
11. Windham and Windsor Housing Trust
12. Shires Housing
13. Barre Housing Authority
14. Bennington Housing Authority
15. Brattleboro Housing Partnerships
16. Burlington Housing Authority
17. Montpelier Housing Authority
18. Rutland Housing Authority
19. Springfield Housing Authority
20. Winooski Housing Authority
VHFA’s long-standing tradition of staff engagement and charitable work prompted the agency to set aside an additional $20,000 for donations to nonprofits selected by staff. Each staff member is directing $500 of VHFA’s giving by selecting up to five Vermont-based charities working to respond to the unprecedented needs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Staff identified a variety of local organizations, many of which are devoted to serving Vermonters experiencing homelessness, hunger, and mental health challenges.
“I’m consistently inspired by the generosity of VHFA’s staff,” Collins remarked. “Selecting organizations who need help during this emergency comes naturally to them.”
