Addison County Community Trust’s mission is to enrich the lives of low- and moderate-income people of Addison County by ensuring the development, management, and maintenance of safe, quality, affordable homes and related support for families, seniors and individuals. Last fall, thanks to the support of several generous donors, ACCT developed a pilot program to provide a new level of support for its residents to help them successfully remain in their new homes. Family Supportive Services is available free to residents young and old in ACCT housing who have a history of such problems as: housing instability or homelessness, struggles with mental health or addiction, need of support retaining employment and/or maintaining household income, and the added demands of juggling any such challenge on top of growing a young family.

ACCT hired Precious Chamberlin last month as its first Family Support Coordinator.  Over time she will work with as many as 40 separate families (approximately 100 individuals). Some of these families will be identified as being in need by property managers; others may be referred by local social service agencies; and still others might hear about the program and apply themselves. For all residents, participation in the program is entirely voluntary and all services are free.

In the six weeks she has been working with ACCT, Precious has seen twelve different families, helping them navigate existing resources to solve the challenges of their daily lives. Gradually she will increase her case load to help even more families acquire the skills they need to avert the problems that might result in poor health and homelessness.

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