The Homeownership Center at RuralEdge

Homebuyer Education Workshop

Purchasing your first home can be overwhelming. We are here to help you navigate through this exciting, but complicated, process. Whether you have already found the home you want to buy, or are just beginning the process of buying a home, our HomeBuyer Education workshop offers much-needed and helpful tips to make this process as simple and stress-free as possible.

Home Repair Program

Our Home Repair Program is designed to assist income-eligible homeowners in Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties with low-interest rehab loans and grants, through our Revolving Loan Fund, to make health & safety repairs to live safely in their home.

Financial Empowerment Workshop

The financial stress of Homeownership can be significant. Being able to make ends meet is key to housing stability. Our HUD certified and trained counselor will provide a free one-on-one workshop, individually tailored to your specific financial needs. Our Counselors assist homeowners evaluate their current financial situation and household expenses, find and understand any assistance that may be available either through RuralEdge or another agency, and work with you to come up with a plan to help you stabilize your current financial situation.

Housing Stabilization Program

Let’s face it; the COVID-19 Pandemic has tested all of us. Lost income from job loss and increased cost of living has made making ends meet difficult for many families. If you are one of those families, you are not alone!

In September 2021, Governor Scott announced that funding from the CARES Act would go to the Neighborworks Homeownership Centers across Vermont for the Housing Stabilization program. This program allows these organizations, including the RuralEdge Homeownership Center, to hire a financial counseling specifically geared towards assisting current homeowners, as well as providing some funding to assist with back mortgage and utility payments caused by circumstances caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The COVID-19 Pandemic has put a financial strain on a lot of families, even to the point of fear of losing their housing. Don't let that happen to you! Our HUD Certified Counselors can help you to understand your current financial situation and may be able to find some assistance in the form of back utility and mortgage payments for qualifying households. 

COMING SOON: Landlord Repair Program

This program, called the Vermont Rental Housing Investment Program (VHIP), is currently being developed and, upon final approval, will allow RuralEdge to assist landlords to repair and improve their vacant units, as well as address health and safety issues and code violations to bring these units back on the rental market. Landlords receiving funds are required to make these units available at area fair market rents and work with the local Continuum of Care to provide housing to those exiting homelessness. Other program requirements may apply.