Vermont Homeless Policy Under Scrutiny as Advocates Allege Exclusion of Vulnerable Populations
Vermont's new homelessness response law, Act 143, is facing significant scrutiny from service providers and leaders in Burlington, who claim the policy is leaving some individuals without adequate shelter. The law's primary objective is to reduce the state's reliance on hotels and motels for housing the homeless, instead directing individuals towards shelters, treatment facilities, and other pathways to permanent housing. Under Act 143, individuals are required to complete a housing intake form to be matched with appropriate shelter options, which can still include state-funded hotel rooms in certain cases. However, during a joint hearing of lawmakers, service providers alleged that individuals who should qualify for hotel accommodations are being denied. Chad Simmons, Executive Director of the Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, specifically stated that people with disabilities are being denied access to shelters, including hotels and motels. Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak highlighted the b...
