Housing Authority

About the Housing Authority

The Montpelier Housing Authority is a local, independent government agency that has served our community for well over forty-five years. Our five member Board of Commissioners is appointed by the City Council.  The Board employs an Executive Director and staff to oversee its operations.  As a local independent agency, we are not a City department. We are funded entirely by federal funds and management fees paid by the properties that we manage. No local or state funds are received to operate our programs.

The Authority operates a wide variety of programs in its continuing effort to meet the need for affordable housing in our community.  We own and manage Pioneer and Gould Apartments.  We also serve as full managing agent for 58 Barre Street Apartments, Lane Shops Apartments, Cummings Street Apartments, and Prospect Place. We provide management services for two projects for Washington County Mental Health Services: a group home on St. Paul Street and a small apartment house on Prospect Street. In addition, we administer the Section 8 Existing Program which totals 122 vouchers.  We also administer a home ownership option to our Section 8 participants.  Working with the Central Vermont Homeownership Center, this option allows Section 8 tenants to use their vouchers to help pay their mortgage and other pertinent housing expenses. To date, we have had five closings under this option.  A total of 324 units of affordable housing are provided through these programs.

Our 501(c)3 nonprofit, Capital City Housing Foundation (CCHF) renovated Heaton Woods, an affordable residential care facility. Heaton Woods is a tremendous asset to the community.  Several years ago, a generous gift from the Roselli family enabled us to add five more rooms when we renovated the third floor bringing the total number of rooms to 46.  In May 2016 CCHF sold Heaton Woods to the Living Well Group a non-profit that owns two other residential care facilities in Vermont and is better able to carry on our mission.

CCHF also owns Prospect Place and is the general partner for Cummings Street Family Housing Limited Partnership and 58 Barre Street Housing Limited Partnership.

CCHF continues sponsorship of the meals site at Pioneer Apartments.  This program has operated continuously since 1973.  The Senior Meals Program serves weekday noon meals to the elderly and persons with disabilities, along with weekend frozen meals on Fridays for those who need them.  They also provide home deliveries to our elderly/disabled buildings and those living near the meals site. Please call 223-6357 for more information.

The Montpelier Housing Authority is committed to paying our fair share toward City expenses.  All projects owned or managed by MHA and CCHF pay full water and sewer charges, including the sewer benefit.  58 Barre Street Apartments, Cummings Street Apartments, Prospect Place, Lane Shops Apartments, 7 St. Paul Street group home and the Washington County Mental Health Prospect Street property paid a total of $126,921.80 in property taxes to the City for the 2015-16 tax year. 

Pioneer Apartments paid $2,465.91 in sewer benefit and $12,622.23 in PILOT.  Gould paid $481.59 in sewer benefit.

The authority works cooperatively with City Departments and other non profits, especially the Planning and Development Office and Downstreet Housing and Community Development (formerly CVCLT).We continue to work closely with the Assistant City Manager on issues that arise in connection with the 58 Barre Street property.  The Authority not only serves as managing agent for the housing at 58 Barre Street, but also manages the commercial condominium comprised of the fourteen unit housing complex and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center.  This includes ensuring that the bills are paid and that all the building systems are maintained, serviced and inspected as required.

The Executive Director also serves on the Montpelier Housing Task Force and the Washington County Continuum of Care.

The authority strives to maintain a high level of service to our tenants and the Montpelier community.  Please feel free to call our office at 229-9232 if we can be of service to you.

Jo Ann Troiano, Executive Director