HHAV is a membership-based advocacy organization dedicated to ensuring all people living in Vermont have safe, stable, affordable homes and if homelessness occurs, it is brief, rare, and non-recurring. This includes the full spectrum of the affordable housing landscape, from rentals to homeownership, from shelter to subsidies and services, from new development to sustaining existing housing, and so much more.
HHAV also serves as the collaborative applicant for the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care.
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Why Should I Join HHAV?
Our members play a vital role in shaping our approach to affordable housing and homelessness support policy in Vermont. They provide us with valuable feedback and direction, and in return, we offer them opportunities to participate in important policy and advocacy discussions. By joining our coalition, members can expect the following benefits:
- Advocacy & Collective Action: Our members collaborate to develop policy and advocacy priorities that take a comprehensive approach to reducing homelessness and increasing the availability of affordable housing. We have a strong voice and presence in the Vermont statehouse and deep knowledge about housing and homelessness issues that we use to educate legislators and other stakeholders.
- Monthly Meetings: Our monthly meetings are an excellent forum for advocates from all parts of the state to stay up-to-date on policy issues, network, collaborate, and establish new connections in the pursuit of affordable housing for all Vermonters.
- Annual Meeting: Our in-person annual meeting provides an opportunity to celebrate the year past, hear from and discuss key issues with state officials, partners and members, inform the next year’s state policy priorities and vote on HHAV board members. The annual meeting is typically held in September of each year.
- HHAV Board and Committees: Organizational and individual members can join the HHAV board. HHAV holds board member elections during our annual meeting. Organizational members are also able to join the State Policy Advisory Committee, chosen by the board annually based on the annual state policy agenda. The board also appoints both ad-hoc and regular committees to focus on key components of HHAV’s activities.
- HHAV’s Annual State Policy Agenda: HHAV members can inform, shape and propose the policies for the annual state policy agenda. An open policy proposal process will happen each year (typically in the late summer/early fall). The board votes on the final state policy agenda, released in the late fall of each year.
Membership in the Coalition is a cooperative relationship – we quite literally could not do the work we do without you. Annual membership dues sustain our organization and have contributed to a number of accomplishments, including:
- Securing a historic $35 million bond to build 550 – 650 permanently affordable homes for low- and moderate income Vermonters;
- Fully developing the Voices of Home story-telling project to give a face to Vermonters who live in affordable housing;
- Increasing funding for VHCB and preserved homelessness assistance funding, including Emergency Housing during dangerous weather;
- Helping to pass regulatory reforms to incentivize housing production;
- Fighting to preserve definitions for affordable housing in state statute;
- Helping to oversee the creation of the “Roadmap to End Homelessness” and bringing its recommendations to key legislative committees;
- Crafting recommendations on housing and homelessness for the Governor’s Pathways from Poverty Council;
- Helping to spearhead a campaign to generate new revenues for housing through a proposed hotel/motel occupancy fee;
- Working with our Congressional delegation and national and regional partners to fight against the Trump Administration’s devastating proposed cuts to housing and safety net programs;
- Helping the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care survey and analyze the needs and priorities of its local Continuums of Care.
- Helping subsidized housing residents get organized and gain leadership skills; and
Suggested membership dues are based on your organization’s (or housing program’s) annual operating budget. We are, of course, grateful for higher contributions. HHAV is committed to open participation: individuals and organizations for whom the suggested amounts are a financial hardship may have dues reduced or waived. Contact helpingtohousevt@gmail.com if this applies to you. Donations are tax-deductible.
Instructions for Making Membership Payment
Membership dues payments can be made online (via Paypal) and check. At this time, we strongly encourage you to make payment via Paypal. If you are unable to do that, please mail a check to our Burlington PO Box (below) and email Grace Shyer the day you put the check in the mail. You can also coordinate an in-person check drop-off with Grace if you are located in or near Chittenden County. HHAV has recently had issues with our mail, and taking extra steps to ensure receipt of your payments. Thank you!