Statutory Authorization: 24 V.S.A. Chapter 113; Chapter 117 §§4432, 4433 Type: NONREGULATORY Related Topic Areas: Community & Economic Development; Regulations Housing Programs 13 Overview ousing—and Hin particular—is in short supply in many parts of the state. It’s becom- ing difficult for an increasing number of Vermonters, including renters and first-time home buyers, to find suit- able places to live near jobs and serv- ices. Many local employees—for example, municipal workers, teachers, and health-care and service providers—cannot afford to live in the communities where they work. Long commutes are common and, with rising fuel prices, increasingly costly. The lack of affordable housing also affects job recruitment and retention. Over much of Vermont’s history, Housing programs, such as community land trusts and dedicated funding sources, can be critical to building housing on infill sites within older neighbor- local governments were solely respon- hoods, where the complications of permitting and construction can reduce in- sible for the care and housing of the terest from the private sector. Once neighborhoods start to turn around, poor, giving rise to a statewide system developers will often jump in to build additional units. of locally funded “poor farms.” These uals who could not support them- grams, until very recently, focused on establishments housed transients and selves. Poor farms were never pleasant providing safe and sanitary housing indigent, elderly, and disabled individ- places to live but were viewed at the for low-income tenants, including the time as a humane and cost-effective elderly and disabled. Market rate way to address very real housing housing development was left to the Affordable Housing needs. The local poor farm system private sector, subject to state and Definition was phased out beginning in the local regulation. 24 V.S.A. §4303 1930s under federal and state relief Vermont’s housing market has Housing that is owned or rented programs and was eliminated by the gone through several boom and bust by its inhabitants, whose gross state in 1967 with the passage of the cycles, generally following national annual income does not exceed 80 Social Welfare Act. The last poor trends. As a result, planning has had percent of the county median farm, in Sheldon Springs, closed to address both housing shortages income, or 80 percent of the stan- dard metropolitan statistical area in 1968. and the impacts of residential devel- income (where applicable), as Interest in improving local housing opment on local communities. Af- defined by the U.S. Department of then took other forms. Beginning in fordable housing development and Housing and Urban Development, the 1950s, several larger Vermont mu- growth management are not mutually and the total annual cost of housing nicipalities undertook, with federal as- exclusive, as evidenced in the creation is not more than 30 percent of the sistance, sometimes controversial of the Vermont Housing and Conser- household’s gross income. Housing urban renewal projects to relieve vation Trust Fund in 1987. costs for homeowners include princi- pal, interest taxes, insurance, and neighborhood slums and blight. Soon Municipal plans adopted under the association fees. For after state-enabling legislation went Vermont Planning and Development renters, costs include rent, utilities, into effect in 1961, local housing au- Act (24 V.S.A. Chapter 117) are re- and association fees. thorities were created to access federal quired to include a section on housing housing funds. pro- that recommends a program for

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-1 “addressing low and moderate income Fair-Housing Standards • Auditing and testing programs that persons’ housing needs, as identified Fair housing is defined as the right target specific parties or groups and by the regional planning commission” using trained auditors to investigate to equal opportunity in rental, sale, (§4382). Local efforts to both provide and financing of housing under and uncover discriminatory practices for possible enforcement. and regulate housing must conform federal, state, and local laws. The to the municipal plan. They must also Federal Fair Housing Act was origi- • Developing land use policies and nally enacted as part of the Civil regulations that promote affordable meet federal and state fair-housing Rights Act of 1968 and makes it illegal housing by eliminating regulatory standards that prohibit exclusionary to discriminate on the basis of race, barriers (for example, overly restric- or discriminatory practices (see side color, religion, national origin, sex, fa- tive limitations on higher-density bar). This paper describes housing milial status, and disability. Vermont’s housing development), providing in- programs that can be undertaken by centives (for example, density Fair Housing Act is similar to federal municipalities, typically in partnership law, with four additional protections: bonuses or waivers of standards and fees), requiring affordable housing with other groups. A related topic marital status, age, sexual orientation, paper provides guidance on local and receipt of public assistance. development (for example, inclusion- This act protects everyone from ary zoning), or by directly building or housing regulations. discriminatory or exclusionary housing subsidizing affordable housing de- practices. Municipal activities that velopment. Housing Task Forces affect housing, including one or more • Developing programs that increase of the following, trigger fair-housing geographic choice in housing (such and Commissions responsibilities: as regional housing listings, job and housing search assistance, and Though planning commissions are Regulatory Activities, for example, responsible for preparing housing zoning regulations and housing rental voucher programs) that codes. provide housing choices over an ex- plans and related regulations, many Provision of Services, including panded geographical area. municipalities appoint housing task routine services provided to residen- • Developing programs that promote forces or commissions that focus tial neighborhoods or individual the desegregation of public housing. more specifically on community All communities have fair-housing residents. housing issues. Local housing groups Provisions of Subsidies, including fi- responsibilities whether or not state or federal funding is involved. Any activ- generally serve in an advisory capacity nancial incentives (grants, loans, to the legislative body, planning com- loan guarantees) or special services ity that results in discrimination, re- (special infrastructure projects or gardless of intent, can be found in mission, and other local boards and housing rehabilitation services) to violation. Care must be taken in the may also conduct studies, educational residential property owners and management and administration of programs, and public awareness cam- residents. local housing programs and paigns to help address identified Proprietary Activities, for example, regulations. housing needs. Complaints under federal fair- when a municipality buys or sells Some housing task forces are residential property. housing laws may be filed with the U.S. Department of Housing and short-term, ad hoc groups appointed Municipalities that receive federal to oversee a particular housing study and state housing funds, such as Urban Development (HUD) or in law- Community Development Block suits in federal court. At the state or initiative. Others, such as the Grants, must certify that they are level, complaints may be filed with the Montpelier Housing Task Force, are acting to “affirmatively further fair Vermont Human Rights Commission. longstanding. Housing groups to be housing.” Related activities may The Fair Housing Project of the effective often draw their membership Champlain Valley Office of Economic include: from local residents, businesspeople, • Conducting public education and Opportunity (CVOEO) also provides education, outreach, and enforcement and professionals with interests or ex- outreach programs, including pro- pertise in housing issues, including grams that counteract public resist- of fair-housing laws, by conducting ance to affordable housing (for studies on rental and sales practices, housing advocates and providers, example, NIMBYism). investigating complaints, and assisting landlords, realtors, developers, and • Monitoring the practices of local victims and attorneys involved in liti- tenant and homeownership groups. lenders, housing providers, land- gation. Chapter 117 now provides for the lords, and realtors. creation of more formally constituted • Adopting a local fair-housing ordi- Source: Adapted from The Basics of Fair housing commissions or committees nance that is consistent with federal Housing and Examples of Activities to Affirma- to assist the planning commission and and state law or, in communities that tively Further Fair Housing, Vermont Association lack local resources, assisting the of Planning and Development Agencies (April legislative body to prepare, adopt, and state in the enforcement of federal 2002). implement the housing section of the and state requirements. municipal plan (§4433). A housing commission may be created at any

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-2 trends, conditions, markets, and af- Housing Task Force • Increase the public's participation in fordability. Housing assessments are and awareness of city housing Example: Montpelier usually prepared by local planning issues. The Montpelier Housing Task Force commissions or housing groups, with The Task Force consists of up to was organized in 1999 to (1) gather the assistance of planning staff and fifteen members of the community, in- and evaluate information regarding consultants, and may be incorporated cluding one representative from the housing trends in the city, (2) develop Montpelier City Council. Membership in or adopted as an amendment to the responses to housing concerns that in the task force is open to all but pref- municipal plan. are identified, and (3) recommend erence is given to those who live or The Vermont Housing Finance policies concerning housing to the work in Montpelier. The Department of Agency and UVM’s Center for Rural Montpelier City government. Planning and Community Develop- The mission of the Task Force is to Studies have issued the Vermont ment provides staff support. preserve and enhance residential op- Housing Needs Assessment Guide for use Since 1999, the Montpelier portunities in Montpelier for households by Vermont communities. The guide Housing Task Forces has been re- of all income levels. Working with com- sponsible for or assisted in the prepa- is intended to help community groups munity residents, city staff, elected offi- ration of several housing studies and determine the local need for afford- cials, landlords, financial institutions, reports—including regular housing able housing for renters, home buyers, and community organizations, we will: reports to the city council, a 2003 seniors, and groups with special • Gain a better understanding of the Housing Inventory and Needs Assess- housing needs. complex issues affecting the quantity ment, and a 2004 Central Vermont The guide, and much of the data and quality of the city's housing; Housing Resource Guide, prepared in needed to prepare a local housing as- association with the Central Vermont • Recommend activities to increase sessment, is available through the the amount of housing in the city; Regional Planning Commission. Vermont Housing Data website • Recommend strategies that protect (www.housingdata.org)—a collabora- against the loss of housing in the Source: Montpelier Housing Task Force website, city; and www.montpelier-vt.org/mhtf/. tive effort of state housing organiza- tions and the largest single source for market rate and affordable housing in- formation in the state. The guide and time by a vote of the municipality or the legislative body, planning com- website also include links to housing through the adoption of bylaws that mission, zoning board, development providers, programs, and resources. establish the commission. Commis- review board, road commissioner, Municipal planning grants, admin- sions must have at least three and other municipal and private or- istered through the Vermont Depart- members, a majority of whom should ganizations—on matters affecting ment of Housing and Community reside in the community. Housing housing resources of the commu- Affairs, can be used to fund housing commission powers and duties may nity. This may include, for example, needs assessments. Several assess- include: working on a wastewater ordinance ments are available from the depart- • conducting inventories of the current to allocate a percentage of available ment or online through municipal and housing stock to identify housing reserve capacity for affordable housing organization websites. gaps for households in different housing; and income groups or with special • collaborating with nonprofit housing organ- needs; izations, government agencies, developers, Value of Housing Needs • reviewing existing zoning and subdivision and builders in pursuing options to Assements regulations, ordinances, and building codes meet local housing needs. Policy makers, leaders, and citi- and the local development review process zens continually analyze present and making recommendations to fa- Housing Needs data and future trends when deter- cilitate the development of afford- Assessments mining the levels and types of able housing under local regulations; housing needed at the state, re- • assisting appropriate municipal panels The housing section of a municipal gional or local levels. Whether pro- (such as planning commissions, plan may include a general assessment jecting the capacity for sewer and zoning or development review of housing need based on readily water infrastructure, building roads, boards) and the Act 250 district en- available demographic information or planning for schools, housing needs assessments are an integral vironmental commission by provid- and targets provided by the regional element in community and regional ing testimony on the housing needs planning commission. Housing needs planning. of the municipality, where pertinent assessments are supporting studies or Source: Vermont Housing Needs Assessment to the review of permit applications; plans that provide more detailed, in- Guide. • cooperating with local officials—including depth analyses of local housing

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-3 Municipal Housing housing choice programs (for Housing Authority example, Section 8 vouchers) and Authorities Example: Burlington other types of federal programs in- Public housing authorities evolved The Burlington Housing Authority tended mainly to assist low-income out of federal legislation, first enacted (BHA), created in 1961, is the renters. They may also, however, in the 1930s, to address housing needs state’s oldest and largest municipal provide a variety of other services, through federally funded public public housing authority. Policies including financial counseling and housing programs. Legislation enacted and priorities are established in employment training services, home five-year plans. Most program ownership programs for qualified by the state in 1961 established in funding continues to come from the each municipality a “public body cor- families, and home support services U.S. Department of Housing and for the elderly. porate and politic to be known as the Urban Development (HUD). housing authority” (24 V.S.A. Chapter BHA manages over 500 afford- Few Vermont municipalities have 113 §4003). Municipal housing au- able units and provides had the need or resources to establish thorities, however, must also be estab- rental assistance to more than local housing authorities, but this lished locally through the legislative 1,700 families through its Housing remains an option for communities Choice Program. It also offers rental that are growing or undergoing major body. The local governing body can, assistance programs for people with at any time, declare by resolution that redevelopment. Most communities special needs, resident service, instead rely on services provided by there is a need for a housing authority family financial self-sufficiency, and if it finds that unsanitary or unsafe in- homeownership programs. the Vermont State Housing Authority habited dwelling accommodations and other organizations, such as com- exist in the municipality or there is a munity land trusts and nonprofit housing projects, including project shortage of safe or sanitary dwelling housing corporations, to address their construction, reconstruction, im- accommodations available for low- affordable housing needs. provements, alterations, and repairs; income and elderly persons at rents • arrange or contract for project work, they can afford. Community services, or management, including Currently, there are eleven public services provided through other Land Trusts housing authorities in the state, in- public and private agencies; cluding ten municipal authorities and Community land trusts (CLTs) are • lease dwellings, , accommoda- the Vermont State Housing Author- community-based nonprofit organiza- tions, lands, buildings, or structures ity—a statewide housing authority tions that often arise from grassroots included in a housing project; created in 1968. The municipal efforts to address local housing needs. • invest funds held in reserve or housing authorities are in Barre, The primary purpose of a CLT is to sinking funds in property or legal se- Bennington, Brattleboro, Burlington, provide access to land and housing curities; and Hartford, Montpelier, Rutland, for people who are otherwise priced • enter into contracts, agreements, St. Albans City, Springfield, and out of the housing market. The lawsuits, and other legal instruments Winooski. Municipal housing authori- community land trust model, first in- necessary to carry out their powers ties consist of five commissioners ap- troduced in the 1960s, has been suc- and duties and to require that con- pointed by the legislative body for cessfully applied in poor inner city tractors or subcontractors comply terms specified in statute. neighborhoods, gentrifying communi- with federal labor and wage require- Qualified public housing authori- ties, and rural areas. CLTs are gov- ments and other conditions of ties are charged with administering erned by boards of directors and federal funding. U.S. Department of Housing and draw their membership from the Vermont’s housing authorities were Urban Development’s (HUD) low- larger community. There are now initially established, largely in urban income housing programs, as well as several CLTs operating in Vermont, communities, to address concentra- other programs to provide and including the nation’s largest—the tions of substandard housing through manage public housing. Housing au- Burlington Community Land Trust. the construction and management of thorities in Vermont have the Most community land trusts in federally funded housing projects. power to: Vermont are regional, covering several Federal housing priorities and funding • investigate living, dwelling, and municipalities. levels have changed significantly over housing conditions and methods for CLTs, as independent nonprofit or- the years, requiring municipal housing improving substandard conditions; ganizations, have the flexibility to authorities to adapt their programs • acquire, insure, improve, and dispose address housing gaps that are not accordingly. of property; being filled by the market or public Today, public housing authorities • carry out, acquire, lease, and operate agencies. They work to develop a pool continue to manage housing projects,

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-4 • acquire and develop multifamily local resource. They help address Housing Development housing under various ownership unmet housing needs, and their proj- Corporations structures, which may include prop- ects generally benefit the entire Community land trusts are one erty ownership and management by community. type of nonprofit housing organiza- residents (for example, as a coopera- tion. There are more than twenty tive or condominium), the commu- Public/Private active nonprofit groups statewide nity land trust, or another nonprofit that focus on affordable housing de- Partnerships velopment. In addition to community housing provider; land trusts, these include several • purchase mobile home parks to Few if any Vermont municipalities nonprofit housing development cor- provide long-term security for park have the wherewithal to address af- porations that don’t necessarily residents. fordable housing needs on their own. follow the land trust model but also • make land available for community Fortunately, as noted above, there are develop and manage affordable gardens, playgrounds, economic de- a number of housing groups around housing projects and programs— velopment activities, or open space the state that have the needed re- often in partnership with community (some may also function as land sources and expertise—including land trusts. Housing development corpora- conservation trusts that hold ease- project financing, development and tions, as other housing organiza- ments on farm- or forestland); and management skills—to assist local tions, generally serve and manage • provide services and training to communities. They also depend, projects in more than one commu- first-time home buyers and crucial however, on local support to function nity. The largest—Housing support to deal with needed repairs effectively within the community. Vermont—operates statewide in or to resolve financial problems. Community support may take the partnership with local organizations, Homeowners pay taxes on their form of: public agencies, and the private sector. Founded in 1988, Housing homes, and the land trust pays taxes • representation and active participa- Vermont has helped produce more (or payments in lieu of taxes) on their tion on housing boards and advisory than 3,300 affordable units in over land holdings, the cost of which is committees; ninety different development proj- usually covered through rental fees. • funding assistance—including mu- ects around the state. A property’s assessed value, however, nicipal grants and loans through the may be reduced based on the resale Vermont Community Development of permanently affordable housing by value of the home, which is deter- Program, municipal endorsements acquiring and holding land in trust. mined by the trust’s resale formula for other sources of project financ- The land is then made available, under rather than the market value of the ing (for example, the Vermont long-term lease (for example, ninety- property. Housing Conservation Trust Fund), nine years), for housing or other com- It’s common for community land or funding through a local housing munity development purposes. trusts to work closely with local gov- trust or revolving loan fund; The CLT retains ownership of the ernment, and in some cases, such as • donations of municipal land for af- land, thereby reducing home sale and in Burlington, they’ve been initiated fordable housing development;p resale prices. Sale and lease agree- by the municipality. CLTs rely heavily • assistance with community educa- ments require that dwellings be sold on local support, especially to access tion and outreach for projects that back to the trust, under shared equity public funding for property acquisi- may be locally controversial but arrangements that maintain their long- tion, development, and rehabilitation. meet municipal housing goals and term affordability. The amount the Communities interested in promoting objectives, which could include homeowner receives upon sale is de- affordable housing development have hosting neighborhood meetings or termined under the CLT’s resale also donated public land or other mu- supporting a mediation process to formula, which is designed to give nicipally acquired properties. Most address local concerns as discussed homeowners a fair return on their in- CLTs also work closely with a broad below; vestment, while keeping the price af- network of housing providers, includ- • incentives for affordable housing de- fordable for subsequent home buyer. ing other nonprofit housing corpora- velopment under local land use reg- CLTs have the flexibility to: tions, to meet shared goals for ulations and infrastructure • acquire land and properties for com- affordable housing development. ordinances; munity purposes through gifts and While there is sometimes opposi- • downtown district or growth center donations or through purchases on tion to community land trusts because designation under Vermont’s Down- the open market, often with the help of the types of projects they take on, town Program, which provides of public funding; or perceived impacts to the local tax additional financing and regulatory • build new homes and rehabilitate base, most officials recognize that incentives for developers of afford- older homes; CLTs are stewards of an important able housing; and

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-5 fordable housing, supporting infra- Local housing trust funds are rela- Employer Housing structure, and access improvements tively new and few in Vermont. They Programs that serve low- and moderate-income are not addressed in state statutes but Some employers are large groups. Block grants are available only are nevertheless subject to applicable enough to affect housing markets by to municipalities on a competitive state laws. Local housing funds estab- generating significant demand for basis. Funds received from implemen- lished as reserve funds, or funded affordable or seasonal workforce housing. Communities can encour- tation grants are generally issued as though development impact fees, may age or, if they’ve done the needed loans to project developers. Loan re- be subject to the same requirements analyses, require under local regula- payments may then be used to estab- as similar funds, for example, their use tions (known as “linkage ordi- lish revolving loan funds that are may be limited only to the financing nances”) that employers provide administered locally. Local revolving of capital projects (such as land, housing, housing assistance pro- loan funds may also be capitalized houses, and supporting infrastructure) grams, or contribute to the develop- through other sources, including and the statutory time limit on impact ment of affordable housing that direct municipal contributions. fee expenditures (six years) may apply. allows their employees to live near where they work. Housing Trust Funds. Housing trust funds are distinct funds estab- lished by state or local government to • municipal support in Act 250 hear- Financing provide dedicated sources of funding ings for projects that have received Affordable Housing that support the preservation and local approval. Affordable housing projects gen- production of affordable housing. Many communities are also erally require creative financing, The Vermont Housing and Conserva- which includes funding from a working with private housing develop- tion Trust Fund (HCTF), established variety of sources. Three primary ers and employers who are interested in 1987 to meet state land conserva- sources of funding in Vermont in not just meeting their bottom line tion and affordable housing objec- include: but also want to address the need for Community Development Block tives, is one of the best examples of a more affordable and mixed-income Grants administered through the state financed and independently housing. Again, this may include pro- Vermont Community Development managed housing trust fund. The viding incentives under local regula- Program, which are available only Housing and Conservation Trust to municipalities on a competitive tions and support for housing Fund receives funding from a variety basis. Implementation grants may projects that meet community goals of sources—including a percentage of be used for housing, infrastruc- and objectives and involving non- the state’s property transfer tax rev- ture, and access modification profit housing groups to help develop enues and other state and federal ap- projects. and manage affordable units. Federal Home Investment propriations—and has been used to Partnership (HOME) funds, dis- Financing help finance more than 6,500 units of tributed through the Vermont affordable housing around the state. Housing and Conservation Board Programs Communities around the country (VHCB). These may be used for are establishing local housing trust acquisition and rehabilitation, new A number of communities manage funds, including, in Vermont, Burling- construction, mobile home parks, programs locally, or in association ton and Montpelier. Burlington’s and organizational support for with nonprofit housing groups, to Vermont’s nonprofit housing devel- housing trust fund, established in provide funding for affordable opers. VHCB administers the 1988, is used to fund nonprofit housing development, home owner- Vermont Housing and Conserva- housing development and to purchase ship, and home improvements. These tion Trust Fund, which also in- affordable units that become available cludes state funds allocated for usually take the form of local revolv- under the city’s inclusionary zoning affordable housing programs. ing loan funds that provide low ordinance. Montpelier’s housing trust Low Income Housing Tax Credits interest loans to eligible applicants but fund, created by city voters in 2005, (LIHTC) are indirect federal subsi- may also include housing trust funds. dies that are used to help build or provides grants and loans to non- Revolving Loan Funds. Commu- preserve affordable rental profit organizations to preserve and nity Development Block Grants housing. These are made avail- develop affordable housing and to (CDBGs), administered through the able through the Vermont Housing assist eligible home buyer. Both funds Finance Agency, working in asso- Vermont Community Development are supported primarily through local ciation with the Vermont Depart- Program and Community Develop- property taxes. ment of Housing and Community ment Board, are a major source of Affairs. funding for the construction of af-

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-6 Community seniors on fixed incomes, and first- Resources for Outreach time home buyer—and their chil- Outreach Programs The Vermont Housing Aware- dren when they decide to move out; ness Campaign (www.housing- • can actively participate in the plan- Many smaller municipalities don’t awareness.org)—initiated by public have the staff or resources needed to ning process in determining what and private sector housing interests type of housing is needed and administer local housing programs, to address statewide housing but all communities can provide in- issues—is a resource for similar where it should be located in the formation about the programs and re- efforts at the community level. community; and sources that are available to local • have the opportunity to raise valid concerns about a proposed project residents—especially to those in need. directory, or providing housing Community outreach efforts could in the initial stages of project assistance and resource links on the design, during the development include: municipal website. • referring residents to housing and review process, and through media- Outreach is also critical for raising tion where appropriate and available. homeowner assistance programs; community awareness about local • offering municipal space for dis- Most municipalities, at some point, housing issues and to address the will face vocal opposition to an af- plays, meetings, and community concerns of local residents when forums; fordable housing project that requires housing projects are proposed in their local approval. Encouraging develop- • hosting housing forums or annual neighborhoods. housing fairs; ers to involve neighbors in initial Longtime homeowners benefit project design and, where feasible, to • providing administrative support to from rising property values and, oth- mobile home park residents who address their concerns outside the erwise unaffected by the housing permitting process—for example, want to form a cooperative; and market, may not even be aware that a • developing a local housing resource through facilitated mediation—may housing problem exists until their help resolve conflicts before they taxes go up or they need to move. come before the board. Local residents are also understand- Community outreach programs can Small Loan and ably wary of any change in their cir- demonstrate, through example and il- Grant Programs cumstances, particularly if it’s in the lustration, that well-designed afford- Many of Vermont’s older homes form of higher-density development able housing projects benefit the are expensive to heat and maintain that may have perceived or very real entire community and therefore and can present special challenges impacts on their neighborhood and deserve broad community support. for structural repair, lead paint daily activities. The common associa- removal, the installation of new tion of affordable housing with water systems, or the replacement poorly designed and managed public of failing septic systems. Several Housing Resource Guide communities have established small housing projects of the past doesn’t loan and grant programs to help help. Development of any kind can Example: Central Vermont finance needed repairs and weath- be controversial, but affordable The Central Vermont Housing erization. housing holds a special place in the Resource Guide, compiled by the The town of Swanton and the “not in my backyard” list of unde- Montpelier Housing Task Force and Lake Champlain Housing Develop- sired development. the Central Vermont Regional Plan- ment Corporation have used VCDP Community support for affordable ning Commission, is designed to grants to capitalize the Champlain assist renters, homeowners, and Valley Revolving Loan Fund, a scat- housing development is more likely potential home buyer by providing tered site housing rehab program when local residents: information on various housing pro- that serves income eligible - • understand that providing affordable grams available in Central Vermont. holds in Franklin and Grand Isle housing means providing housing The resource guide can be found at Counties and the town of Westford. options for teachers, town employ- www.centralvtplanning.org. ees, health-care workers, retired

Implementation Manual • Housing Programs • 2007 • www.vpic.info VERMONT LAND USE EDUCATION & TRAINING COLLABORATIVE 13-7