2000 Best Practice Awards

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, Burlington’s 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 trust’s 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 driver’s 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 17’s 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 o’clock 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 Vermont’s residents.

Contact: Michael McNamara, Phone: (802) 951-6289
Tracking Number: 561
Winning Category: Geographical

Content Archived: April 20, 2011