2000 Best Practice Awards
Program and Geographical Winners: Vermont
Best Practice: Analysis of Impediments to Fair
Housing Choices
An Analysis Reveals the Cause of Impediments
to Fair Housing Choices in Burlington
Burlington. This
project consisted of a study conducted by Joan Rogers Powell with the Community
Research & Development Group prepared for the City of Burlington, VT,
Community Economic Development Office. According to the 1990 U.S. Census,
Burlingtons minority population is the fastest growing demographic
group and the city is currently experiencing a very low rental vacancy rate
(estimated at 0.7 percent) creating an unusually high demand for rental
housing. The experience of the city staff was that a very large proportion
of the low-income, minority and disabled population of northern Vermont
were all seeking housing in Burlington. The fact that they are all competing
for the same scarce low-income housing results in serious impediments to
housing opportunity and choice for these groups. The study was intended
to find out the cause of these impediments and how they can be addressed.
The study found that serious socioeconomic barriers affecting the natural
market demand for housing in the City of Burlington do exist. A fair housing
action plan was developed that includes a realistic action item for each
of the impediments found. It is hoped that this plan will reduce the impact
of the impediments to fair housing.
Contact: Joan Rogers, Phone: (802) 828-3211
Tracking Number: 1691
Winning Category: Program (Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity)
Best Practice: Burlington Community Land Trust
Asset Control Area Agreement
Asset Agreement Provides Affordable Housing
and Revitalizes Burlington, VT Communities
Burlington.
The rehabilitation of properties by the Burlington, VT, Community Land Trust
has contributed to the revitalization of neighborhoods both by physically
improving the buildings themselves and adding new stable homeowners to a
fragile neighborhood. In an agreement with HUD, Burlington Community Land
Trust agreed to purchase HUD's Real Estate Owned (REO) properties in Burlington.
The Asset Control Area Agreement was developed as a result of the trusts
excellent record in purchasing HUD REO properties in Burlington, undertaking
necessary rehabilitation and selling the properties to low-income homeowners.
The homes are perpetually affordable, through a model of homeownership that
involves a land lease with a shared equity resale formula. This program
assisted five low-income households in homeownership, using a discounted
initial purchase price from HUD and purchase subsidy from the land trust
to the buyers, three of who were multiracial or disabled. Of the five homes
purchased by the land trust, three were in the Burlington Enterprise Community,
a neighborhood with 32 percent homeownership. The properties outside the
enterprise community were vacant and needed substantial rehabilitation.
Upon completion of the renovations, two homes offered affordable homeownership
opportunities in higher income neighborhoods, providing low-income residents
greater choice in where they can live.
Contact: Amy Demetrowitz, Phone: (802) 862-5382
Tracking Number: 2667
Winning Category: Program (Single Family Housing)
Best Practice: Good News Garage
Community Transportation Program Helps
Residents Achieve Self-Sufficiency
Burlington.
The Good News Garage (GNG) provides safe, reliable and affordable means
of transportation to low-income residents, putting them on the road to self-sufficiency.
The GNG seeks and receives donated vehicles, which are restored and provided
to low-income applicants. In order to qualify, the applicants must meet
certain criteria, including having a valid drivers license and income
requirements. The total cost to the recipient is $750 per vehicle, while
the donors receive a tax deduction based on the fair market value of the
vehicle. Since the inception of this program, GNG has provided more than
450 vehicles to individuals throughout Vermont. The GNG program is a result
of an informational survey conducted by the Burlington Enterprise Community
Strategy five years ago. The survey revealed that transportation equity
was a common concern among the social service community. Combining efforts
with the State of Vermont Department of Social Welfare Reach-Up Program,
75 percent of Reach-Up referrals receiving GNG vehicles have abandoned welfare
assistance and moved into full-time employment. 42 percent of GNG recipients
have reported increases in their income, 23 percent were able to retain
existing employment, and 19 percent found better jobs. Not only is GNG helping
the residents of Vermont earn higher incomes, it is also saving the state
money. It is estimated that the state of Vermont saves $8 for every $1of
support.
Contact: Hal Colston, Phone: (802) 864-3667
Tracking Number: 1145
Winning Category: Geographical
Best Practice: Statewide Nonprofit Homeownership
Centers
Homeownership Centers Provide Needed Services
to Vermont Communities
Burlington. The
Vermont Housing Finance Authority initially funded four area nonprofits
to create homeownership centers to assist low- and moderate-income people
trying to find and purchase affordable housing. The centers provide a full
range of housing services, including homebuyer education, housing counseling,
loss mitigation services, rehabilitation counseling and limit funding for
rehabilitation, post-ownership and credit counseling. More than 3,000 clients
with a multitude of housing assistance issues have been assisted since the
1996 inception of the four homeownership centers. In addition, the number
of homeownership centers has expanded to five and now effectively covers
the entire state. The Central Vermont Homeownership Center is a partnership
of four nonprofits covering Washington, Northern Windsor and Lamoile counties,
and the Burlington Community Land Trust covers Northern Addison, Chittenden,
Grand Isle and Franklin counties. The Gilman Housing Trust covers Essex,
Orleans and Caledonia. The Rockingham Area Community Land Trust covers southern
Windsor and Windham, and the Rutland West Neighborhood Housing Services
covers Southern Addison, Rutland and Bennington counties. The National Neighborhood
Housing Service has approved four of the five centers, with the fifth expected
to receive approval by Fall 2000. In 1997, USDA's Rural Development Office
(the Vermont/New Hampshire state office) partnered with this project by
providing direct funding and assigning staff to each center to promote rural
development programs and provide housing counseling. Two of the homeownership
centers are HUD-approved housing counseling agencies.
Contact: John Olmstead, Phone: (802) 951-6295
Tracking Number: 2063
Winning Program: Program (Single Family Housing)
Best Practice: The Housing and Communities Show
Television Program Provides Valuable Housing
Information to Residents
Burlington.
The Housing and Communities Show educates approximately 140,000 Chittenden
County, VT, viewers whom otherwise might not have access to information
on housing and community development issues. In partnership with CCTV, the
Vermont State HUD office prepares a regular segment that airs on Channel
17s Live at 5:25 program. The program provides information on topics
such as homeownership opportunities, affordable housing developments, homeless
issues, and community and economic development subjects. The call-in show
precedes the nightly six oclock news on the first Wednesday of every
month. As a result of the efforts put forth by CCTV and the Vermont State
HUD office, the number of calls into the show and the Vermont State HUD
office have increased, suggesting a growing awareness and understanding
of housing issues among Vermonts residents.
Contact: Michael McNamara, Phone: (802) 951-6289
Tracking Number: 561
Winning Category: Geographical
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