This fall in Vermont, there is a situation where many vulnerable people experiencing homelessness must vacate state-funded motel rooms as the state phases out its pandemic-era motel voucher program. Municipal leaders and advocates are concerned about this move, stating that many individuals do not have alternative housing options available.
Around 230 households, including families, individuals with disabilities, older persons, pregnant women, and those who have faced domestic violence or natural disasters, are expected to leave motel rooms on Thursday due to reaching an 80-day limit imposed by the Legislature. Additionally, a new cap of 1,110 motel rooms is now in effect for warmer months from April to November, causing some households to be denied rooms due to lack of space.
In central Vermont, particularly in the cities of Montpelier and Barre, approximately 100 to 140 families are expected to leave motels this fall. Advocates estimate that statewide about 1,000 households will be displaced, leading to shelters being consistently full and a rush to secure housing in a state grappling with a housing crisis and high rates of homelessness.
Advocates like Jen Armbrister from the Good Samaritan Haven in Barre are struggling to find solutions for families facing homelessness. The looming winter adds urgency to the situation, with some families unsure where they will live until they become eligible for motel housing again on December 1.
Affected individuals like Nova and Bruce Jewett and Heidi Wright are among those who are uncertain and anxious about their housing situations following the end of the motel voucher program. Municipal leaders have called on the state government to do more to address the escalating homelessness crisis, emphasizing that local resources are strained.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott acknowledged the challenges of the current situation, mentioning the state’s ongoing efforts to establish more shelters. The state faces a housing shortage, evidenced by a significant increase in homelessness numbers since 2019, with a tripling of homeless individuals reported between 2019 and 2023. The state needs to create thousands of homes in the coming years to address the housing crisis effectively.
