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Committee advances S.328 housing package with VHIP boost and expanded down‑payment assistance
Summary
Senator Alison Clarkson told the committee S.328 would raise support for Vermont Housing Improvement Program to $5 million and proposes changes to down‑payment assistance and treasury loan authority; staffing and an advisory council for service‑supported housing are also included.
Senator Alison Clarkson presented S.328 as a housing package that combines small appropriations and policy changes intended to increase homebuilding and housing supports.
Clarkson said the bill would increase support for the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) by $1 million above the governor’s $4 million base, for a total the committee described as $5 million. “This on average each one of our new units, housing units we bring online costs $39,000 in state investment,” Clarkson said, describing VHIP as a cost‑effective tool for adding units.
Key items Clarkson outlined include:
- Down‑payment assistance: The bill maintains a $10,000 down‑payment assistance option and lists a committee proposal to raise a funding figure “from 250 to 350.” The transcript does not specify the units for those figures; the committee said the increase is intended to help the program keep pace with inflation and preserve the revolving fund through 2031.
- Treasurer’s Local Investment Advisory Council: The committee would increase the treasurer’s authorization from 10% to 12.5% of relevant fund balances to allow the council to support more loans; the treasurer’s office has historically used about 80% of the fund for housing projects, Clarkson said.
- Service‑supported housing advisory council and DHCD positions: S.328 creates a time‑limited advisory council to study financing and development of service‑supported housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and requests modest operating support for the council. The bill also proposes adding three positions to the Department of Housing and Community Development to replace lost limited‑service positions and help implement housing programs.
- Municipal and regional planning resilience fund: The bill requests $250,000 to provide technical assistance so towns can meet housing targets and embed those targets in town plans.
Clarkson said the committee prioritized expansions of existing programs rather than new initiatives in a tight budget year. Committee members and staff noted fiscal notes are pending; the bill will go to the finance committee for fiscal review when the formal bill and fiscal documents are available.
