Dear VAHC members and friends,
It’s an exciting year for many of VAHC’s most important state legislative priorities. There is a real possibility of significant investment in the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, passage of the Rental Housing Safety Bill, an expansion of tax credits to support the purchase of energy-efficient mobile homes, an ambitious weatherization program, and more. These initiatives, along with incoming federal relief, will help low-income Vermonters recover from the economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis in safe, secure affordable housing and build the foundation for thriving, stable communities. But we need to make sure they are adequately funded!
We are now at a critical juncture in the legislative session. The House Appropriations Committee is likely to finalize their version of the FY22 budget this week, and we need to make sure members of the committee support funding for housing and homelessness solutions.
We urge our housing allies to contact members of the House Appropriations Committee this week and encourage them to support the recommendations in VAHC’s letter on the FY22 budget (below).
You can find contact information for members here.Click here for a helpful guide for speaking to lawmakers about housing and homelessness issues, compiled by our Vice Chair Jess Hyman for Early Childhood Day at the Legislature. If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to VAHC Steering Committee Chair Cindy Reid or Interim Coordinator Brian Pine.
Plus: support VAHC and the NLIHC in federal advocacy!
The National Low Income Housing Coalition is launching a bold new agenda for long-term housing solutions at the federal level, and VAHC would love to see support and engagement from housing leaders in Vermont. We encourage our members to register for NLIHC’s Virtual Housing Policy Forum, March 30-31. The Forum will feature keynote speakers and panels on Racial Equity and Housing Justice, Coronavirus: The Current State of Play, State and Local Emergency Rental Assistance Programs, Achieving a Housing Entitlement, What the Election Means for Affordable Housing/Capitol Hill Insiders Panel, Best Practices in Organizing, and more. This is a great opportunity to network with other housing organizations and learn more about policy and advocacy at the federal level.
Stay tuned for more information about a special opportunity to join VAHC for a meeting with our Congressional delegation’s staff on April 1, NLIHC’s Capitol Hill Lobby Day.
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