Burlington Housing Trust Fund

The Burlington Housing Trust Fund (BHTF), operated by the Community & Economic Development Office (CEDO) of the City of Burlington, Vermont, provides critical financial support to increase access to long-term affordable housing for very low, low, and moderate-income residents. Through a combination of grants and loans, BHTF promotes housing initiatives that support equitable development and community stability. Eligible applicants include a wide range of entities such as nonprofit and for-profit corporations, municipal bodies, partnerships, individuals, and limited equity housing cooperatives. In the Spring 2025 cycle, the BHTF is offering a total of $840,000 in available funding. These funds support two major types of grants: project funding and capacity grants. Project funding targets housing developments or preservation initiatives that directly benefit low-income Burlington residents. Eligible projects must serve households earning no more than 100% of the area median income (AMI), with a preference for those serving households below 50% AMI. Highest priority is given to initiatives that create new units of perpetually affordable housing. Capacity grants are intended for nonprofit organizations involved in housing services and may cover staffing, training, planning, and other operational costs. However, these grants are limited to $10,000 per program and are available only to organizations that do not directly engage in housing development. All awarded funds must be expended by June 30, 2026. Applications must be submitted electronically via email to housing@burlingtonvt.gov by 5:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. Applicants must complete the designated form and include all required attachments. Only emailed submissions in PDF format will be accepted. Additional documentation may be requested by CEDO after initial submission. Submitted proposals undergo an initial eligibility screening by CEDO. Those deemed eligible are then reviewed by the Housing Trust Fund Administrative Committee, which is responsible for evaluating applications and determining final awards. The committee will convene on Monday, June 9, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. in the Sharon Bushor Conference Room at City Hall. This meeting marks the official date on which funding decisions are expected to be made. For further information about this funding opportunity or the application process, applicants are encouraged to contact Rebeka Lawrence-Gomez, CEDO Housing Program Manager, via email at rlawrencegomez@burlingtonvt.gov or by phone at 802-734-8019. The program operates on a recurring basis, with additional cycles expected in future fiscal years.

Proposals focused on permanent affordability and extremely low-income households will be prioritized.