Affordable housing group now a non-profit
ANDY McKEEVER, Staff Writer Article Launched: 05/12/2007 02:59:10 AM EDT
Saturday, May 12 POWNAL — When the ball starts rolling, who knows where it will stop? For the Affordable Housing Committee in Pownal, the ball started and has yet to stop.
The Affordable Housing Committee is officially the non-profit corporation known as Pownal Valley Affordable Housing Inc.
"It's taken a while to get incorporated," said the group's Vice President Eve Pierce. "We've gone from having an informal chairperson to having some formal structure."
The group developed bylaws, filed the application, justified their purpose and elected positions to become recognized as an official non-profit organization, according to Pierce.
"There are responsibilities and benefits in both directions," said Pierce. The organization is only recognized on the state level but may apply for federal recognition at a later date.
The organization now has an official employee identification number to make the group's banking easier, but the main benefit to being recognized is the ability to receive grants, according to Pierce.
"It puts us in an optimal position to look for grant money to build more housing units in town," said Pierce.
The group has been very active in recent months. The group has surveyed most of the local mobile home parks to find out the most pressing issues. It entered discussions with a non-profit housing group about purchasing the Green Mountain Mobile Home Park after the park was foreclosed in October. It is being sold by the bank holding the mortgage.
According to Pierce, the group has also garnered a strong relationship with the Bennington Regional Affordable Housing Corp.
Last June, a Vermont Council on Rural Development-led series of community meetings identified four issues to be addressed. The community formed committees for each issue. They focus on recreation, communication and community, economic development and affordable housing and mobile home park improvement.
According to Pierce, Pownal has one of the largest mobile home users per capita.
The group plans on developing more affordable housing in the community and will advocate for mobile home users.
"We've been a real sounding board for residents in the park," said Pierce.
The organization is run by volunteers and holds meetings the second Wednesday of each month in the Pownal Center Fire Department at 6 p.m.
Pat Woodard serves as president. Slyvia Proud serves as secretary. Julius Rosenwald serves as treasurer. Pauline Guntlow, David Cook and Pamela Bolus are also involved with the organization.