ACCT's April Board meeting will be held Thursday, April 22nd, at 4pm, via Zoom.  (Note that regular meetings have moved to the 4th Thursday of the month.)  Please register using the form below to receive the link.

• Agenda (Updated 4-22)
  
• March Minutes
  

VERMONT EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (VERAP)
*IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT ELIGIBILITY*
Updated: 4/12/2021
 
VERAP is a new program to help with rent, back rent, utilities, back utilities, and other housing expenses.  Unlike RHSP which provided back rent assistance through December 2020, VERAP ELIGIBILITY IS LIMITED TO VERMONT RENTERS WHO MEET ALL OF THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA:

• One or more adults in your household is unemployed and/or receiving unemployment benefits, or a household member has experienced a reduction in income, incurred significant costs, or financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• You are able to demonstrate risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability.
• Your household has an annual income at or below 80% of area median income (AMI) Vermont Income Limits for Addison County are online at: http://bit.ly/2021vtincome

Rent assistance can be provided for 3 months at a time.  Yes, you can apply for forthcoming months.
 
APPLY ONLINE AT https://erap.vsha.org. UNLIKE RHSP, YOUR LANDLORD (ACCT) CANNOT COMPLETE THE APPLICATION FOR YOU.
 
IF YOU ARE ELIGIBLE, YOU WILL BE ASKED TO PROVIDE DOCUMENTATION THAT MAY INCLUDE A COPY OF YOUR LEASE AND THE AMOUNT OF RENT YOU OWE.  PLEASE CONTACT JEFF TO MAKE SURE THE AMOUNT YOU APPLY FOR MATCHES OUR RECORDS; THIS WILL BE REQUIRED IN ORDER TO RECEIVE ASSISTANCE.
 
If you think you owe back rent, or not sure what your rent is, PLEASE CALL OR EMAIL JEFF at 802-877-2626 x104, because you will need the correct figures to apply.  Statements occasionally have errors. 
 
IF YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NOT BE ELIGIBLE AND NEED TO SET UP A PAY PLAN, CONTACT JEFF WEDWALDT AT 802-877-2626 x104 or via EMAIL
 
NEED HELP APPLYING?  ACCT CAN HELP, or you can contact Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity - CVOEO They can assist applicants without access to the internet, a computer, or mobile device capable of completing an online application.  Please contact them at: https://cvoeo.org/ or by phone - (802) 388-2285.

VT Legal Aid also has great info on VERAP and eligibility: https://vtlawhelp.org/money-for-past-due-rent
 

The affordable housing crisis is reaching a fever pitch.  The below stories are just a sampling of some of the ways housing has appeared in the news recently:

• VPR segment features the "devastating" rise in homelessness: https://www.vpr.org/post/hud-growth-homelessness-during-2020-was-devastating-even-pandemic?mc_cid=7071e49964&mc_eid=3343deb933#stream/0
  
• Vermont has the highest median price for new construction homes--a leading reason why new construction is almost at a standstill in Addison County: www.marketwatch.com/story/this-state-has-the-least-affordable-housing-market-in-the-u-s-based-on-income-and-its-not-california-11615974744
  
  • It also doesn't help that lumber costs have skyrocketed more than 180% this year: https://www.nahb.org/news-and-economics/housing-economics/National-Statistics/Framing-Lumber-Prices
    
• By other measures, we aren't doing quite as badly as the rest of the country, but as the Times-Argus notes, "the average isn't good"
  

ACCT is working tirelessly to alleviate the shortage of affordable housing.  For example, in partnership with John Graham Housing and Services, we recently added four Zero-Energy Modular homes to one of our mobile home parks in Bristol that will house formerly homeless families and individuals with disabilities.  Almost one in five of our apartments are housing some of the most vulnerable Vermonters--people who formerly experienced homelessness.  Additionally, about a third of our apartments have rental assistance, meaning that residents will never have to pay more than 30% of their income in rent.  And in 2020, we helped our residents access over $200,000 in Rental Housing Stabilization funds to avert eviction. 

You can join us at www.addisontrust.org/donate!

This is the last week to complete the Community Health Needs Assessment Survey. This survey is critical in supporting our residents and developing a healthy and flourishing community for all. This information will be used to better understand our resident’s needs (healthcare, mental health, childcare, schools, dental care, senior care, hunger, etc) and how we can all work together to improve overall quality of life. Please help us spread the word to get as many responses as possible to ensure all voices are heard when identifying priorities.
 
The survey will remain open until MARCH 20th and we are encouraging individuals 18 and older, and families to respond to the survey!

Link to English survey: surveymonkey.com/r/86PSH65
Enlace a la encuesta en español: surveymonkey.com/r/86PSH65?lang=es

ACCT's regular Board meeting will be held the 4th Tuesday of the month, 3/23/21, at 4pm via Zoom.

ACCT's regular February Board meeting will be held 2/23/21 at 4pm via Zoom. Use the form below to RSVP and receive the link.

• Agenda
• Director's Report
  
• Draft Minutes 1-26-21
  

From last summer through December, the Vermont State Housing Authority helped over 14,000 renters maintain their housing by providing assistance for back rent or other housing services through the Rental Housing Stabilization Program (RHSP).  ACCT helped dozens of our residents access this program to keep current on their rent despite facing financial hardship due to the pandemic.  You can view other outcomes from the program through this online data visualization.

RHSP ended in December, but many tenants continue to struggle.  The state is working on a new multimillion dollar round of investments to provide rental relief that will be available in the coming weeks.  This assistance will be more restrictive than RHSP in terms of who can access it, as it will be more deeply targeted to low-income households.  Any ACCT residents who are having trouble paying rent are encouraged to call us at 877-2626 x 104 to discuss payment options and receive updates about the availability of back rent assistance. 

ACCT's regular January Board meeting will be held Tuesday, 1/26 at 4pm via Zoom.

• Agenda
• Director's Report

Please RSVP for the link.

With these frigid days upon us, summer (and post-covid times) may seem far away, but it's not too early to start thinking about summer programming for your family.  This year, Lake Champlain Maritime Museum will be offering "pay what you can programs" so there's something for everyone!

Immediate opening for full-time salaried Family Support Coordinator (FSC) in support of Addison County Community Trust's (ACCT's) mission of providing affordable housing.  The FSC works under the joint supervision of the Executive Director and Director of Property Management, in partnership with members of the Property Management team to connect residents—especially families at risk of eviction—with the supports and wraparound services they need to be successful in their homes.  The FSC will work closely with other community organizations to identify supports, make referrals, and facilitate resident participation in community resources.  Additionally, the FSC will sponsor general programming for residents in response to identified needs.  The FSC will take a proactive approach to engaging with families, using empathy, tact, and professionalism to build trusting relationships that result in participant access to long-term successful housing.
 
This position is part of a two-year pilot program, Family Supportive Services, to promote housing stabilization for families at risk of eviction and/or with a history of housing instability.  With the Executive Director, the FSC will assist with reporting and evaluation of the program, including the design of data collection and evaluation tools to track outcomes.  The FSC will assist in the implementation and maintenance of a case management system to allow accurate, real-time tracking and communication of progress to all critical team members and partners.    
 
Requirements:

• Previous experience working with high-risk populations, and/or coordinating services;
• Ability to perform work with empathy, consideration, respect and professionalism under stressful circumstances is essential;
• Must have a strong sense of teamwork with the ability to work both independently and as part of a team; demonstrate flexibility and good judgment; have strong analytical skills and be highly organized;
• Excellent written and verbal communication; computer skills including fluency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel/Word/Outlook).
• BA in Social Work, Psychology, or another Human Services field or equivalent combination of education and experience preferred;
• Valid driver’s license, vehicle and ability to travel to properties around Addison County.

 
Salary & Benefits

• Salary commensurate with experience
• Generous health & dental plan
• IRA with employer match
  
• Short-term disability
• Paid Time Off

 
Respond via email with resume and cover letter.  Position open until filled.  EEO.