The Vermont Community Loan Fund announced that Sarah Phillips has joined its leadership team as Director of Housing & Community Facilities Programs.
“Sarah’s extensive career experience aligning with our work and mission make her a tremendous asset for our organization,” said Vermont Community Loan Fund Executive Director Will Belongia. “The Loan Fund develops and promotes innovative capital-based solutions to issues of poverty, justice and opportunity. Sarah has worked with communities to develop solutions to poverty and homelessness, and to promote economic mobility. Her expertise in weatherization, microenterprise assistance, credit building, and more will help the Loan Fund bring even more impact to our housing work,” Belongia added.
Phillips comes to the Loan Fund from her role as Director of Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity in the Department for Children and Families, Agency of Human Services, overseeing funding for homeless shelters and service providers, Vermont’s Family Supportive Housing program, among other initiatives. Prior posts include managing Vermont’s Community Services Block Grant and HUD Homeless Assistance Funding, and program and grants management roles at Capstone Community Action.
As Director of Housing & Community Facilities Programs, Phillips will oversee the Loan Fund’s lending to Vermont developers of affordable housing including transitional housing programs, mobile home parks and more. Phillips will collaborate with Loan Fund partnering agencies and organizations including Champlain Housing Trust, RuralEdge, Lamoille Housing Partnership and others, assessing community needs to provide financing for the building and rehabilitation of safe and affordable homes throughout Vermont. She’ll manage VCLF’s newest initiative, CTE Revolving Loan Fund which supports CTE Centers across the state, training high school and adult learners in building trades skills as they build and rehabilitate affordable homes.
Phillips will direct the Loan Fund’s Community Facilities lending in support of nonprofits and community organizations that provide essential services to Vermonters, including rural health centers, youth/family organizations, recreational centers, elder care facilities, arts organizations and more. Phillips is also tasked with identifying and developing new lending programs and products, particularly for sustainable endeavors, and for non-traditional borrowers.
“I’m interested in continuing to build on VCLF’s work to provide patient, flexible capital to meet communities’ needs. In particular, to fill in gaps where other resources aren’t available. We have a housing crisis, and VCLF has an important role to play in Vermont. We’re part of the solution,” Phillips said. “The Loan Fund has a fantastic reputation for innovative, mission-driven work. I’m excited to join such a strong team and work to help create strong, thriving communities.”
Phillips serves or served on the Board of Directors of Housing Vermont, the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, the Vermont Climate Council Just Transitions Committee, and is a Member of the Legislative Advisory Council on Child Poverty, among other posts. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea, West Africa working with local residents on rural public health initiatives. She lives on a farm in Marshfield with her husband and three children, where they raise goats and berries.
The Vermont Community Loan Fund announced that Sarah Phillips has joined its leadership team as Director of Housing & Community Facilities Programs.
“Sarah’s extensive career experience aligning with our work and mission make her a tremendous asset for our organization,” said Vermont Community Loan Fund Executive Director Will Belongia. “The Loan Fund develops and promotes innovative capital-based solutions to issues of poverty, justice and opportunity. Sarah has worked with communities to develop solutions to poverty and homelessness, and to promote economic mobility. Her expertise in weatherization, microenterprise assistance, credit building, and more will help the Loan Fund bring even more impact to our housing work,” Belongia added.
Phillips comes to the Loan Fund from her role as Director of Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity in the Department for Children and Families, Agency of Human Services, overseeing funding for homeless shelters and service providers, Vermont’s Family Supportive Housing program, among other initiatives. Prior posts include managing Vermont’s Community Services Block Grant and HUD Homeless Assistance Funding, and program and grants management roles at Capstone Community Action.
As Director of Housing & Community Facilities Programs, Phillips will oversee the Loan Fund’s lending to Vermont developers of affordable housing including transitional housing programs, mobile home parks and more. Phillips will collaborate with Loan Fund partnering agencies and organizations including Champlain Housing Trust, RuralEdge, Lamoille Housing Partnership and others, assessing community needs to provide financing for the building and rehabilitation of safe and affordable homes throughout Vermont. She’ll manage VCLF’s newest initiative, CTE Revolving Loan Fund which supports CTE Centers across the state, training high school and adult learners in building trades skills as they build and rehabilitate affordable homes.
Phillips will direct the Loan Fund’s Community Facilities lending in support of nonprofits and community organizations that provide essential services to Vermonters, including rural health centers, youth/family organizations, recreational centers, elder care facilities, arts organizations and more. Phillips is also tasked with identifying and developing new lending programs and products, particularly for sustainable endeavors, and for non-traditional borrowers.
“I’m interested in continuing to build on VCLF’s work to provide patient, flexible capital to meet communities’ needs. In particular, to fill in gaps where other resources aren’t available. We have a housing crisis, and VCLF has an important role to play in Vermont. We’re part of the solution,” Phillips said. “The Loan Fund has a fantastic reputation for innovative, mission-driven work. I’m excited to join such a strong team and work to help create strong, thriving communities.”
Phillips serves or served on the Board of Directors of Housing Vermont, the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, the Vermont Climate Council Just Transitions Committee, and is a Member of the Legislative Advisory Council on Child Poverty, among other posts. She holds a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Michigan and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea, West Africa working with local residents on rural public health initiatives. She lives on a farm in Marshfield with her husband and three children, where they raise goats and berries.