The United Church of Underhill’s Harvest Crossing affordable housing development, in partnership with Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, has received a $500,000 implementation grant from the Vermont Community Development Program (VCDP), which administers U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding.
Governor Phil Scott and Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell announced the award recipients at the Governor’s weekly press conference, which was held in Rutland.
Governor Phil Scott stands at the podium at his weekly press conference on Aug. 21 in Rutland,
VT.
“[This] is a really exciting partnership. This is a really creative project that is going to bring eight new homes for affordable homeownership to Underhill,” said Farrell.
Co-leader Dave Clift, Pastor Jen Mihok, and Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity Marketing Manager Ellie Scott traveled to Rutland, and they got to represent the project and their respective organizations.
“The group at the United Church of Underhill is really inspiring, and I’m thrilled that they have received this significant amount of support and funding,” said Ellie Scott. “These individuals are so dedicated and hardworking. Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity so excited to be a part of this project.”
During the press conference, Governor Scott highlighted the severity of the housing crisis. According to a recent analysis, Vermont needs around 6,800 units right now to stabilize the state’s current housing market. He noted that this truly is a crisis; if the state wants to attract more residents and grow its workforce, then housing needs to be affordable and accessible.
“The CDBG program continues to be a valuable resource the State of Vermont is using to increase our supply of safe, affordable housing for all,” said Farrell. “By leveraging these federal dollars, communities can advance vital affordable housing projects and create more opportunities for residents by making our common spaces more accessible to everyone.”
Department of Housing and Community Development Commissioner Alex Farrell announces the recipients at the press conference on Aug. 21.
A group of 10 volunteers at the UCU have met weekly since 2020 to plan for the Harvest Crossing project, including applying for grants and working with other partners, such as the town of Underhill and the state of Vermont. In total, the project has received over $1 million in funding, including $200,000 of congressionally designated funding from Bernie Sanders.
“One of the things that is appealing to those who look at this project is that the Green Mountain Habitat model keeps these houses affordable in perpetuity,” said Dan Manz, one of the church members and co-leaders of the project.
The UCU will install the infrastructure, and GMHfH will build and sell the homes to future partner families.
Through GMHfH, families purchase homes at cost, with mortgage payments typically lower than what they were paying in rent. If they ever choose to sell their home, they receive a portion of the accrued equity, and GMHfH sells the home to another family in need of affordable housing.
According to the Vermont Housing Finance Agency, 6% percent of households in Underhill are severely cost-burdened by their housing expenses, meaning they spend over 50% of their income on housing. Additionally, 19% of households in Underhill allocate between 30-49% of their income to housing. For housing to be considered affordable, a household should spend no more than 30% of its income on housing costs.
To learn more about the Harvest Crossing project, check out their website here. To learn more about Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity, check out their website here. Read the Governor’s full press release here.
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