Vermont to Help Buy Out Irene Damaged Homes

The state of Vermont is going to use grant money to help towns buy out homes destroyed or damaged by Tropical Storm Irene that are ineligible for a federal program.

The money will come from a $21.6 million community development block grant.

It’s unclear how many homes will be affected.

In addition, the Stratton Foundation will make up to $80,000 available to help buy out four homes in Jamaica that were ineligible for the funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The block grant money is also being used to help meet a 25 percent local match for the FEMA program.

For homes ineligible for FEMA funding, the grants will be used to pay up to 75 percent of the costs.