[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO PAUL DETTMAN

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, after decades of committed service to the 
important cause of providing public housing for those in need, Paul 
Dettman is retiring this month as executive director of the Burlington 
Housing Authority.
  Throughout Paul's career, he has worked tirelessly in the field of 
public service. Public housing has not been a fashionable cause for 
many years, and our communities have certainly seen the effects of this 
sometimes forgotten priority. Paul Dettman was never deterred by these 
attitudes, however, and has been dedicated to finding creative 
solutions to provide for our most vulnerable friends and neighbors.
  Paul's leadership has resulted in a series of public-private 
partnerships and innovative initiatives have helped revitalize 
communities across the Green Mountain State. Before joining the 
Burlington Housing Authority as its executive director in November 
1995, Paul served for many years with the Vermont State Housing 
Authority. It was here that Paul created the State's first lead hazard 
reduction program, which now stands as a model for providing families 
of all incomes with safe housing.
  Since the beginning of Paul's tenure at Burlington Housing Authority 
20 years ago, Vermont's oldest and largest municipally based housing 
authority, the organization has grown vastly in size and scope. The 
Burlington Housing Authority has taken on new development projects, 
improved homebuyer education, and negotiated critical agreements to 
prevent homelessness in recent years. Under Paul's direction, the 
Burlington Housing Authority has upheld a strong mission to support all 
residents, including refugees, those in transition, or in need of long-
term supportive services.
  Paul's commitment also resulted in a critical partnership with 
another local organization, Women Helping Battered Women, to create 
Sophie's Place. Together, these two organizations devised a plan to 
provide victims of domestic violence easier access to public housing 
subsidies so that they could move directly from violent homes into safe 
transitional housing. This solution simultaneously eased suffering, 
streamlined services, and saved money. This program now functions as a 
key component of the local economic justice and housing plans and 
serves as a model for valuable partnerships in my home State. This 
program is only one of many that I could provide as reference to Paul's 
great work in Burlington and beyond.
  Like his many colleagues and friends, I know that the Burlington 
Housing Authority and the greater housing community will miss Paul's 
expertise, spirit, and compassion. Marcelle and I extend our best 
wishes as Paul begins his retirement after a long and distinguished 
career. I surely hope that Paul will take time to enjoy one of his 
greatest hobbies in the years ahead--sugarmaking among the sweet 
sugarbush.
  Paul Dettman's standard of distinction should be an inspiration to 
others, just as it has been to the city of Burlington and the State of 
Vermont.
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statement was ordered to 
be printed in the Record.)

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