Vermont’s $20,000 accessibility rider draws little interest; officials point to rehab complexity and unclear standards
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Summary
Officials told lawmakers Feb. 13 that although VHIP includes an unmatched $20,000 per‑unit accessibility rider to fund accessibility upgrades, uptake has been minimal—homeownership centers reported roughly 1–3% of applicants inquire—and staff cited technical constraints, mixed standards and marketing gaps.
Sean Gilpin, housing director, told a legislative committee Feb. 13 that the VHIP accessibility rider—an unmatched additional $20,000 per eligible unit intended to cover the cost of bringing a unit to a prescribed accessibility standard—has seen essentially no takers so far.
"We have yet to have anybody take us up on this extra $20,000," Gilpin said, adding that the rider was structured so funds would only reimburse elements that together bring the entire unit up to an accessibility standard rather than pay for piecemeal items.
Program staff described several reasons for low uptake: many VHIP projects are small rehabs of older Vermont housing stock where creating zero‑step entrances or widening hallways can be technically difficult or impossible without a full gut renovation; there are multiple levels or interpretations of accessibility (for example, "visitable," "adaptable," and ADA standards), and uncertainty about inspectors' ability to verify standards. Erin Caro Aguayo, a VHIP grants specialist, told the committee that homeownership centers reported only about 1 in 30 applicants inquire about the accessibility rider in the program’s first funding cycle.
Erin also said the program is working on clearer guidance and cross‑agency coordination; she flagged the need to connect people seeking accessible units with owners providing them. Committee members noted statewide demand: a committee member quoted figures that about 90,000 Vermonters had disabilities as of 2022 and that a 2024 report counted roughly 2,713 accessible units, underscoring a potential mismatch between need and supply.
Program staff said they considered allowing smaller, piecemeal accessibility reimbursements (for items such as grab bars) but rejected that option initially because added administrative tracking would exceed current staff capacity. Officials said the move from federal to state funding later this year could simplify reporting and open opportunities to rework timelines and outreach.
What comes next: Officials said they will continue to advertise the rider through homeownership centers, consider administrative adjustments, and explore partnerships with aging and disability services to increase uptake.
