Rutland West Neighborhood Housing Services Inc

TO STRENGTHEN THE DEVELOPMENT OF A REGIONAL ECONOMY BY PROMOTING SAFE, EFFICIENT AND STABLE HOUSING AND COMMUNITY PROJECTS THROUGH EDUCATION, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND FINANCIAL SERVICES.

HOME REPAIR PROGRAM: THE HOME REPAIR PROGRAM CONSISTS OF NEIGHBORWORKS OF WESTERN VERMONT PROJECT COORDINATORS THAT OVERSEE A REPAIR PROJECT FOR LOW-TO-MODERATE INCOME HOMEOWNERS IN ADDISON, RUTLAND, AND BENNINGTON COUNTIES THAT ARE RECEIVING A LOAN AND/OR GRANT FROM NEIGHBORWORKS OF WESTERN VERMONT (NWWVT). TYPICAL HOME REPAIR PROJECTS INCLUDE NEW WELLS, SEPTIC SYSTEMS, HEATING SYSTEMS, ROOF REPLACEMENT, STRUCTURAL WORK, PLUMBING, ELECTRICAL, AND WEATHERIZATION. AS THE LOAN AND/OR GRANT PROCESS PROCEEDS, PROJECT COORDINATORS ARE COMPLETING A HEALTH AND SAFETY EVALUATION OF THE HOME, WORKING WITH THE HOMEOWNER TO CREATE A SCOPE OF WORK, HELPING WITH CONTRACTORS, AND OBTAINING ESTIMATES FOR THE PROJECT. ONCE THE LOAN AND/OR GRANT IS APPROVED, THE PROJECT COORDINATION CONTINUES WITH PROJECT OVERSIGHT AND ESCROW PAYMENTS TO CONTRACTORS, HELPING AT EVERY STEP UNTIL THE PROJECT IS COMPLETE, HOMEOWNER IS SATISFIED, AND THE HOME IS REPAIRED AND SAFE.

HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM: THE HOMEOWNERSHIP PROGRAM CONSISTS OF BOTH EDUCATION AND COUNSELING FOR SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP. ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING FOR PRE-PURCHASE COUNSELING, FINANCIAL COACHING AND LIMITED FORECLOSURE COUNSELING IS OFFERED IN-PERSON, VIRTUALLY, OR BY PHONE. PRE-PURCHASE EDUCATION IS OFFERED IN-PERSON, ONLINE AND VIRTUALLY. FORECLOSURE EDUCATION AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY CLASSES ARE OFFERED ONLINE ONLY. THERE ARE APPROXIMATELY 150 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR ATTENDING HOMEOWNERSHIP AND FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION CLASSES AND APPROXIMATELY 250 THAT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF SOME COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERED.

LENDING PROGRAM: NWWVT IS DESIGNATED AS A FULL CYCLE LENDER BY NEIGHBORWORKS AMERICA. WE HAVE A FULL TIME LICENSED LENDER ON STAFF WITH A FULL TIME PROCESSOR, FULL TIME UNDERWRITER AND SERVICER. LOAN TYPES INCLUDE PURCHASE/HOME REPAIR LOAN, DOWN PAYMENT ASSISTANCE LOAN, ENERGY LOANS, AND HOME REPAIR LOANS FOR HEALTH AND SAFETY. ON AVERAGE, 125 LOANS ARE PROCESSED EACH YEAR. HEAT SQUAD PROGRAM: THE HEAT SQUAD ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAM CAN BE DESCRIBED AS A CONCIERGE OF SERVICES TO ASSIST HOMEOWNERS OF ALL INCOMES THROUGH THE ENERGY EFFICIENCY UPGRADE PROCESS, SERVING ADDISON, RUTLAND, BENNINGTON, WINDHAM, WINDSOR, ORLEANS, ESSEX, CALEDONIA COUNTIES. SERVICES INCLUDE SCHEDULING A LOW-COST ENERGY AUDIT WITH A HEAT SQUAD CERTIFIED ENERGY AUDITOR, REVIEWING THE REPORT AND HELPING TO PRIORITIZE THE WORK, REFERRALS TO TRUSTED LOCAL CONTRACTORS, PROJECT COORDINATION, QUALITY REVIEW OF THE WORK, FINANCING OPTIONS SUCH AS OUR IN-HOUSE STATEWIDE ENERGY LOAN, AND APPLYING ON BEHALF OF THE HOMEOWNERS FOR REBATES. HEAT SQUAD IS A ONE-STOP-SHOP FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY, HELPING TO MAKE HOMES HEALTHY, SAFE, AFFORDABLE, AND EFFICIENT. RENTAL REPAIR PROGRAM: THE INTENT OF THE RENTAL REPAIR PROGRAM IS TO ADDRESS THE HEALTH, SAFETY AND REPAIRS OF VACANT AND BLIGHTED RENTAL UNITS OR OCCUPIED RENTAL UNITS WITH CODE ISSUES. NWWVT PROVIDED GRANTS UP TO 30,000 PER UNIT, ALONG WITH A 10% MATCH REQUIRED BY THE LANDLORD. THE TYPICAL RENTAL REPAIR PROJECT CONSISTED OF ROOFING REPAIRS, HEATING SYSTEM REPLACEMENT, WEATHERIZATION, ELECTRICAL AND PLUMBING UPGRADES, NEW WINDOWS, REMODELED KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS, SIDING AND TRIM WORK WITH SOME PROJECTS BEING A FULL GUT-REHAB. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOCAL CONTINUUM OF CARE GROUPS, IMPROVEMENTS THESE UNITS WERE BROUGHT UP TO CODE AND WILL PROVIDE SAFE ACCOMMODATIONS TO RE-HOUSE THE HOMELESS. THE UNITS ARE TO BE RENTED AT OR BELOW HUD FAIR MARKET RENT FOR THE LOCAL AREA FOR FIVE YEARS.