Senate committee weighs H.479 revisions, keeps 5-year grant set-aside and clarifies VHIP rules

The Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee on April 18 reviewed differences between the House and Senate versions of H.479 and discussed detailed changes to the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP). Committee counsel and Department of Housing and Community Development staff described how the versions differ on forgivable‑loan options, eligibility requirements and a department set‑aside for shorter compliance grants.

The committee focused on three near‑term, actionable items: whether to retain the House’s 5‑year forgivable‑loan option, whether to require landlords participating in VHIP to accept housing choice vouchers, and how to structure a department set‑aside for grants. “There are technically three options … a grant, a five‑year forgivable loan, or a 10‑year forgivable loan,” Sean Gilpin, director of the Housing Division at the Department of Housing and Community Development, told the committee. He described the program’s original design (instituted in statute in 2022) and how recent amendments changed compliance periods and tenant‑selection requirements.

The Senate draft described by counsel would remove the five‑year forgivable‑loan…