The Rutland Housing Authority
Annual Report to the Citizens of the City of Rutland
2019-2020
The Rutland Housing Authority (RHA) was created more than 58 years ago to address “a shortage of safe and sanitary dwelling accommodations in the City of Rutland available to persons of low income at rentals they can afford” (City of Rutland, Board of Alderman, Resolution dated May 22, 1963). Funded by the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), RHA built and managed three properties, two for the elderly and non-elderly disabled at Templewood Court and Sheldon Towers (134 units) and one for families at the Forest Park site (75 units) for a total of 209 apartments. In 2018 the RHA completed the redevelopment of the obsolete Forest Park. Today, 78 units of modern, energy-efficient mixed-income housing have replaced what was a tired, isolated and unwelcoming “project” into a vibrant new Rutland neighborhood.
The RHA currently administers 283 Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers which enables low-income families to secure high quality rental units from local landlords. New to our Section 8 Over the past 12 months we secured an additional 50 Section 8 Mainstream Voucher subsidies targeted for non-elderly, disabled individuals. This is possible thanks to our partnership with the Homeless Prevention Center, Rutland Mental Health Services, the Vermont Center for Independent Living, Southwestern Vermont Council on Aging and the Community Health Clinics of the Rutland Region.
Our various housing programs provide affordable housing to nearly 500 families including many with children, elders and people with disabilities.
The RHA is evaluated annually by HUD and last year was a High Performer (highest rating) under HUD’s assessment systems for both the Public Housing and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher programs.
Recognized for its commitment to service-enriched housing, the RHA provides resident service coordination at its housing sites. Additionally, we serve as the Designated Regional Housing Organization for the Support and Services at Home (SASH) Program. This interagency system for care management assists Medicare-eligible participants with heathy aging-in-place. Services are provided at a number of housing sites and communities throughout the county. Nearly 500 individuals benefit from these services which have proven to increase quality of life while decreasing Medicare costs.
We would like to express our appreciation for the support that the Authority has received from all City Departments, the Rutland Redevelopment Authority and the many agencies that have partnered with us to provide affordable, service-enriched, safe and high quality housing to the citizens of the Rutland Region.
As always we welcome your comments or suggestions. Please contact the Rutland Housing Authority at 775-2926, or to learn more about our programs and services, check us out at www.rhavt.org.
Kevin S. Markowski, CPA Chairman
Karl C. Anderson, Esq. Vice-Chairman
Rev. Andrew Carlson Commissioner
Tina Johnson Commissioner
James V. Richards Commissioner
Kevin L. Loso, SPHM Executive Director
Download a copy of the report: 2020 Annual Report