ft. Brenda E. Patoine Freelance Writer/Reporter/Photojournalist for COVID Support VT
This guest blog feature is by Brenda E. Patoine Freelance Writer/Reporter/Photojournalist working with COVID Support VT. COVID Support VT helps people cope with the pandemic through education, emotional support and connections to community services that promote resilience, empowerment and recovery. CVOEO’s Fair Housing project welcomes our partners to add their voices to our Thriving Communities blog. Please send inquiries to fhp@cvoeo.org Continue reading Join COVID Support VT for a Virtual Town Hall on Housing Assistance: 5-7pm Feb. 4→
While Martin Luther King Day is relegated to one day each year, it is important to remember that the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s lives on, his advocacy and preaching never loosing relevance in our day-to-day. Throughout our Vermont communities, folks came together to reflect and celebrate the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s commitment to justice.
The Fair Housing Project’s partner, the Old North End Arts Center, celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s legacy with their Better World Camp. The ONE Art Center invited kids to explore kindness through art projects, focusing on fun and the different ways the children can express themselves. They spent MLK Day by making art projects in a variety of media, practicing drama, storytelling, dancing, playing organized games, asking kids to think about What is service to others?
Photos by Brian Letizia, courtesy of Old North End ArtsPhotos by Brian Letizia, courtesy of Old North End ArtsPhotos by Brian Letizia, courtesy of Old North End Arts
The pandemic has put unprecedented stress on our communities, our families, our coworkers, our neighbors. But as we move into the safety of the zoom cyber space, collaboration has become second nature. Organizations have the flexibility to not only cohost conversation across sectors, but even for connections to be built across state lines. The City of Burlington hosted this thought-provoking panel on Reparations and Reconciliation, inviting not just local city officials and scholars, but representatives from other cities experiencing their own Reparations and Reconciliation discussions and legislative actions.
The Providence family of Guilford includes, from left, Justin, Rohan, Sherry, “Prov” and Aaron. Photo by Kevin O’Connor/VTDigger
Following the themes advocates and leaders raised in this conversation, in this VT Digger article, Rohan and his brothers, Aaron and Justin Providence, share a vulnerable conversation about their experiences growing up Black in Vermont with a level of candidness new even to their own family.
“You have to take a step back and just listen,” Rohan tells VT Digger, echoing a sentiment not only shared in the city hosted panel on Reparation and Reconciliation, but an echo of Black voices since the beginning of the racial justice movement. With vulnerable honesty, this family shares their story to illustrate what must be done all across Vermont: frank conversations about race and racism in our communities.
That “raw truth” is core to this powerful commentary from Kesha Ram (D-Chittenden), Vermont’s first woman of color to serve in the state Senate. State Senator Ram points to the glaring racial disparities in COVID-19 rates, policing, and homeownership as the true causes of Vermont’s prevalent & persistent whiteness. Ram corrects the popular and comfortable opinion that Vermont’s lack of racial diversity can be solved merely through more rigorous recruitment, adding critical insight to an urgent equity issue in our state.
You can find the rest of Burlington’s recorded MLK Day events, including a story walk organized by Fletcher Free Library that you can still participate in on your own, here.
ft. Emily Collins, Civil Rights Specialist Contractor for The United States Attorney’s Office of the District of Vermont
This guest blog feature is by Emily Collins, a Civil Rights Specialist, Contractor for Vermont’s United States Attorney’s Office . The United States Attorney’s Office is one of the resources available for folks who want to file a complaint about housing discrimination, particularly if there are patterns or practices of discrimination. CVOEO’s Fair Housing project welcomes our partners to add their voices to our Thriving Communities blog. Please send inquiries to fhp@cvoeo.orgContinue reading Understanding Protections Against Sexual Harassments in Housing→
2020 is finally coming to an end. We are tired, and many of us have faced significant losses this year. But throughout this past year, communities across our state and country have demonstrated amazing acts of resiliency, building their own resources and support networks in their time of need. We at the Fair Housing Project want to take some time to reflect on the inspiring lessons we can glean from the grassroots, community-centered solutions which have grown throughout 2020, and will continue to be essential cornerstones of thriving communities for years to come.
On Dec. 4, CVOEO’s Fair Housing Project Outreach and Education Coordinator, Corrine Yonce, took fair housing education out into the community by spending time with Burlington High School’s immersive learning program, Burlington City Lake Project.
Burlington City & Lake Students walk from the bus stop to Cambrian Rise, a new mixed-income community near their school
The day started by unpacking what fair and affordable housing mean. Corrine introduced the concepts through her own personal experiences, and asked students why they think both fair and affordable housing are important to inclusive communities. They also discussed and defined common housing terms like the Fair Housing Act,inclusionary zoning, protected classes, section 8, and market rate housing.
Students gather around Cambrian Rise to discuss how affordable & fair housing is important for thriving communities.
The students and teachers then took public transportation to check out one of the newest mixed-income housing complexes near where they go to school – Cambrian Rise. They talked about the controversy surrounding that development, and did the math for what 700 new housing units do for a community that has 1-2% housing vacancy rate.
One student asked “Why would they make 25% of the housing affordable by the lake when they could make more money developing all the housing as market rate?” which led to a discussion about equity in resources – especially for those in protected classes– and the important value of mixed-income communities.
“I grew up in a house nowhere near the lake, and I turned out fine. Why should having a view of the lake be important to low-income people?”
Another student was still not sold. “I grew up in a house nowhere near the lake, and I turned out fine. Why should having a view of the lake be important to low-income people?” Other students joined the conversation to point out the proximity of Cambrian Rise to other resources, like the bus linewhich they took to visit the community and the multi-use path that follows the coast of Lake Champlain.
Corrine shared an anecdote about working with the Champlain Housing Trust community, Laurentide, one of the earliest Cambrian Rise buildings to be fully occupied. Many residents there arrived to an art workshop Corrine had lead with images of the sunset on the lake. A few residents explained how past places they lived were overcrowded, on busy streets, and only close to strip malls. The lake added to their sense of place, belonging, and provided a peaceful outlet for busy lives.
This anecdote helped students understand that not all the impacts of fair, affordable, inclusive housing are quantifiable. Some of the impacts can only be learned through listening to the experiences of the people most impacted by affordable housing.
The Fair Housing Project of CVOEO is seeking a Community Organizer!
The Community Organizer position will work to coordinate a statewide effort to support local housing committees, including outreach, training, local policy development, and research related to housing discrimination and local housing needs.
This is an excellent opportunity for a highly motivated person who has community organizing experience and a true passion for understanding Vermont’s affordablehousing landscape,especially within the racial, social, and economic equity issues.
The Community Organizer will work withlocal organizations, municipalities, and thegeneral publictoraise awareness about fair housing rights and responsibilities, local housing policy, affirmatively furthering fair housing, and building inclusive and affordable communities. This position will be part of CVOEO’s statewide Housing Advocacy Programs team, which includes Vermont Tenants and the Mobile Home Program. The Community Organizer will also assist with outreach and education projects, including a new Statewide Library Partnership and Data Collection Initiative.
We are incredibly eager to grow our team, especially during a time when housing is so critical. Community engagement around the complications of housing – building more housing, housing retention, housing equity and accessible housing- requires a sincere effort to connect municipalities and the general public to the tools they need to advocate for their community’s needs. If this sounds like the job for you, you can read more and apply on our website here.
The Vermont Human Rights Commission is hosting the inaugural Vermont Civil Rights Conference on November 17-19, 2020. This year’s conference is focused on the theme of Fair Housing: The Consequences of Housing Segregation and Where we go From Here.
This three-day conference is free and open to the public, and features Richard Rothstein, author of The Color of Law, and Sarika Tandon, Equity Strategist and Racial Justice advocate.
Richard Rothstein is an American academic and author affiliated with the Economic Policy Institute, and a senior fellow, emeritus at the Thurgood Marshall Institute of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. His current research focuses on the history of segregation in the United States with regards to education and housing, and he is most recently recognized for authoring The Color of Law. We’ve called on the expertise of Richard Rothstein many times in our Thriving Communities blog, most recently highlighting his Op-Ed in the New York Times here.
Sarika Tandon is an equity strategist and racial justice advocate. She consults, teaches, writes, researches, and collaborates at the intersection of race, equity, and environmental issues. Sarika is deeply committed to working within the environmental movement to address issues of racial and environmental injustice and to support the inherent power, brilliance, and well-being of communities of color. She also supports racial equity in nonprofit, education, criminal justice reform, and cultural spheres.
Other workshops include, “Housing Barriers in Vermont: Community Challenges & Collective Solutions – Moving the work forward collectively,” “Vermont’s Housing Crisis: State’s Consolidated Plan – What are we doing about it?” “Fair Housing Act: Critiques and Implications” and “Community Reflections on the Consequences of Housing Segregation and Where we go from Here.” Panelists include representatives from various housing and support organizations, state government, and fair housing advocates – including the CVOEO Fair Housing Project.
All community members are welcome to join. Please see below for additional information about the conference.
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
The Vermont Human Rights Commission works to promote full civil and human rights in Vermont by enforcing laws and providing education around equal access to housing, places of public accommodation, and in state government employment. The Commission protects people from unlawful discrimination in housing, state government employment, and public accommodations. Learn more about the VHRC’s at https://hrc.vermont.gov/.
Vermont Legal Aid and the Vermont Landlord Association have launched a Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program. The program is free and open to any landlord and tenant who has disputes that need to be mediated.
The Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program’s purpose during the eviction moratorium is to help landlords and tenants find solutions to the problems between them. During “mediation,” a neutral third person helps people discuss and try to resolve disputes. Program Information can be found here: https://www.vtlandlord.com/public_resources.phpThe program is limited, so apply ASAP
The Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program in Context:
Since the pandemic, a few key resources have emerged to offer tenants additional protections so that they can shelter-in-place during this time when having housing is so critical. The state of Vermont has a ban on evictions through three separate laws or rules: the federal CARES Act, the Vermont Judiciary’s emergency rules, and a state law called S.333 which pauses all evictions since last May until the governor ends the state of emergency. Vermont Legal Aid keeps updates around the eviction moratorium here.
While the eviction moratorium does not absolve tenants from paying rent, tenants who haven’t been able to pay all or some of their rent are eligible for relief through the Rental Stabilization Program. The Rental Stabilization program is a $25 million program which gives renters and landlords a way to apply for coronavirus relief funds to cover unpaid rent, even if it was from before March of 2020. Participation in the Rental Stabilization requires communication between tenants and landlords, as both need to apply. We wrote more about the Rental Stabilization Program here.
“This is a way of addressing the tensions between some landlords and tenants- very few have had this issue, almost 4,000 pairs have applied and received funds,”
Wendy Morgan, an attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, speaking to the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program
Sometimes issues other than money get in the way of landlord/tenant relationships- that’s where the mediation program comes in. The Tenant-Landlord Mediation Program is a way to help address these more complicated problems. Wendy Morgan, an attorney at Vermont Legal Aid, tells us the program builds on the larger goal initiated by the Rental Housing Stabilization Program to keep people housed during the pandemic. “This is a way of addressing the tensions between some landlords and tenants- very few have had this issue, almost 4,000 pairs have applied and received funds,” Wendy told the Fair Housing Project.
Angela Zaikowski, Director Vermont Landlords Association, adds, “In an attempt to be mindful that there are situations that are not working for landlords and tenants, this mediation program hopes to provide an outlet for some of the disputes between landlords and tenants. It is a path for the parties to take advantage of given that the normal process through the courts is not available right now.”
Applicants for the Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program do not have to be a partof the Rental Stabilization program, but both the landlord and tenant have to apply.
These programs are developing rapidly and can be hard to keep track of. If you are a tenant and you are unsure if you are eligible for any of these programs, if you have concerns with your current tenancy, or you need help applying to any of these programs always feel free to call our
Vermont Tenants Hotline (802) 864-0099
A Message from Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont:During these difficult times, new financial help programs are available to many Vermonters. The state does not want people to be struggling to pay bills, so please apply, even if you don’t usually get public help. VermontLegal Aid has more information on these programs on our website: https://vtlawhelp.org/.
1. Help with past-due rentApply by Dec. 11
For help with past-due rent, Vermonters should apply for the Rental Housing Stabilization Program through the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA.org). Tenants and landlords apply for this program at the same time. There are no income limits. VSHA pays landlords directly to bring the tenant’s rent account current. You can get help now, and apply again if you still need help later.
2. Moving to a new homeApply by Dec. 11
Some people need to move because of life safety problems with their rental unit, the rent is too expensive, they have trouble with the landlord or other tenants, or the unit is too big or too small. If you need to move and have found a new landlord, apply together for the Money to Move program at vsha.org. The program can cover the money needed to move in, such as first and last month’s rent and security deposit. It also may cover rent payments through the end of this year.
3. Free mediation program for landlord-tenant disputes during the moratorium. Apply ASAP
Sometimes issues other than money get in the way of settlement and dismissal of eviction cases. Mediators are available to help landlords and tenants solve those issues and maintain tenancies. File joint application found at www.vtlandlord.com.
4. Emergency housing for people who do not have a home
The Department of Children and Family’s (DCF) Economic Services Division is extending housing supports for homeless households. For more information or to apply, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151. If you stay in a shelter or motel, you need to participate in “coordinated entry.” You will be assigned a housing case manager who will help you access subsidies and programs to help you get permanent housing. To learn more about coordinated entry, call 2-1-1. If you worked with your case manager to apply for a subsidy or other program and your application was denied, call Vermont Legal Aid at 1-800-889-2047.
5. Past-Due Utility BillsApply ASAP
The Department of Public Service (DPS) can help pay past-due utility bills. The bills can be for electric, natural gas, landline telephone service or regulated private water bills (not municipal water). Homes and small businesses are eligible. There are no income limits, and you don’t have to have a disconnect notice. However, unless the rules are changed (please check), your difficulty paying the bill must be linked to COVID and the funding only covers arrearages after March 1, 2020. If you need help to fill out an application online, contact your local community action agency. Learn more on the Department of Public Service website under “COVID-19 Arrearage Assistance Program.”
6. Mortgage Assistance Program (and maybe Property Tax Assistance) Apply by Nov. 6
This program can pay up to six past-due mortgage payments on your home. It is available to all Vermonters who:
-are at least 1 month past due on mortgage payments
-have a COVID-related hardship, and
-meet the income requirements.
Even people who have mortgages in forbearance are eligible. Apply if you have a mortgage and are behind on property taxes. Vermont Housing Finance Agency is taking applications for the VT COVID Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program at VHFA.org. (You do not need to have a VHFA mortgage to be eligible.)
Downstreet Housing Finds a New Way to Tell Their Story with this rich podcast, Community Pulse, featuring Downstreet’s Executive Director, Eileen Peltier. Already, Downstreet Housing has four episodes published and ready for listening! You can find it on their website at downstreet.org/podcast.
This third episode of Community Pulse features the reflections of Will Eberle, field director for the Agency of Human Services (AHS), serving the Barre and Morrisville District.
Eberle’s voice offers a fresh perspective on homelessness, not just from his background working with homeless individuals through his work at AHS, nor his many roles working with at risk youth at Another Way and otherwise in Vermont communities. But Eberle speaks from his own personal perspective, having been without housing himself.
Eberle shares vivid vignettes of homeless individuals who he has worked with or encountered throughout his life, illustrating just how varied that experience might be and look like. Be it the young adult experiencing homelessness for the first time after exhausting their family resources, the full-time, minimum wage worker who sleeps in their car after full day shifts, or the chronically homeless individual who remains upbeat despite lack of access to permanent housing, Eberle shares their narratives with a frank honesty that personalizes a systemic issue across our state and country.
Community Pulse is a creative and thoughtful way to engage the every-day-listener around the housing crisis in our state, a much needed new take on an old, persistent issue. Centering the voices and experiences of the houseless community -during a time when housing could not be more critical to survival- is key in the shift towards more thriving, equitable communities.
