Montpelier, VT – Today, shelter and service providers from across Vermont sent a letter to Governor Scott calling for urgent action from the Governor to address the loss of emergency shelter for Vermont’s most vulnerable unhoused residents. The end of the General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing Program’s winter weather protections on March 31 has left hundreds of vulnerable Vermonters without shelter, exacerbating a crisis that was already at a breaking point.
In a letter to Governor Scott, Vermont’s shelter and service providers called on the Governor to take immediate steps to ensure safe, accessible, and non-congregate emergency shelter for the state’s most vulnerable residents. These include seniors, people with disabilities, and those fleeing domestic violence.
“We are witnessing a humanitarian crisis unfolding right now in Vermont, and it is critical that the Governor acts now to prevent further harm,” said Susan Whitmore, Executive Director of John Graham Housing & Services in Addison County. “As shelter systems across the state are already over capacity, the end of winter weather protections has left hundreds of Vermonters on the streets. We call on Governor Scott to use his authority to ensure that every vulnerable unhoused Vermonter has a safe place to stay.”
The situation is dire. As of April 1, more than 300 vulnerable households lost emergency housing when the 80-day and 1,100-night caps on the GA program were reinstated, leaving an additional strain on already overburdened shelters. With a statewide shelter capacity for just 655 households, many more will be left without shelter as they hit their 80-day GA program limit in the coming months.
“This is not a partisan issue – it is a matter of human dignity and human life,” said Julie Bond, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Haven in Washington county. “We need immediate shelter for those who have been displaced by the end of the GA winter protections. But we also need further investment in existing emergency housing programs, while tackling long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness in our state, including the severe shortage of affordable housing.”
“As someone who has worked day and night with folks in the GA Program, I can tell you that this program is vital to keeping our most vulnerable neighbors safe,” said Karissa Myers, Executive Director of Communications and Outreach Services at the Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless. “While no program is perfect, the main concerns we see on a daily basis have nothing to do with the use of hotels and motels to protect our vulnerable neighbors – it is the state’s failure to provide enough resources for the services and supports our vulnerable neighbors need.”
Governor Scott’s Executive Order No. 03-25, which allows a narrowly defined group of vulnerable unhoused Vermonters to stay sheltered, still leaves hundreds of Vermont’s most vulnerable unhoused neighbors out on the street, including seniors, people with disabilities, and people fleeing domestic violence.
“While these categories certainly should be protected, we are concerned that none of these categories include cognitive and/or psychiatric diagnoses,” said Sarah Blizzard, Associate Director at the Greater Bennington Community Services. “90-95% of our patients seeking this assistance have severe psychiatric and/or cognitive impairments that are just as debilitating as the diagnoses covered in the Executive Order. How do we tell someone with a seizure disorder and such severe anxiety that they have never been able to maintain steady employment that they don’t qualify for emergency housing assistance?”
In addition to the immediate actions outlined in their letter, the providers urge the state to make long-term investments in affordable housing. The most recent Vermont Point-in-Time (PIT) Count revealed 3,458 unhoused Vermonters on a single night, a number that includes 737 children and 646 seniors. The number of unhoused Black Vermonters is particularly alarming, as they are 5.6 times more likely to be homeless than their white counterparts.
The underlying cause of Vermont’s housing crisis is the severe shortage of homes affordable to low-income residents. To solve this, Vermont needs a comprehensive, statewide strategy to address this issue, which includes investing in the construction of permanent affordable housing, rehabilitating existing properties, and expanding rental assistance programs.
“When Vermonters have access to safe, stable, and affordable housing, they are better positioned to contribute to the workforce, grow businesses, and participate fully in the economy. Furthermore, addressing the housing crisis is key in ensuring that all communities, including rural communities, remain vibrant and sustainable,” said Johanna de Graffenreid, Public Policy Manager for the Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility. “We urge decision-makers to support these housing initiatives, not only to provide for our most vulnerable but to invest in the long-term health and prosperity of Vermont’s economy. Housing Vermonters is the right thing to do and is fundamental to our state’s businesses and economic success.”
In addition to the immediate action requested in the letter, shelter and service providers from across Vermont are also calling on the Vermont Legislature to include $44.6 million in the FY26 state budget to ensure that the GA Program can continue to protect vulnerable Vermonters without caps beginning in the new state fiscal year (July 1, 2025).
For years, the GA Emergency Housing Program has been a critical lifeline for individuals and families experiencing homelessness, providing them with access to emergency housing during times of crisis. The program has played an essential role in addressing the state’s housing crisis, but the current budget proposal would continue to impose maximum night and room caps, which will continue to threaten the well-being of the most vulnerable residents of Vermont.
“We cannot afford to limit access to emergency housing for Vermonters in need,” said Brenda Siegel, Executive Director of End Homelessness Vermont. “Homelessness is not something that can be capped or controlled based on arbitrary limits. It’s a matter of human dignity and public health. By ensuring full funding without caps, we are prioritizing the safety and well-being of individuals and families who have nowhere else to turn.”
As Vermont continues to deal with an ongoing housing shortage, the need for emergency housing has only grown. Reducing or capping available funding would put thousands of people at risk of living on the streets, in cars, or in unsafe and overcrowded conditions.
“As our state faces an unprecedented housing crisis, our ability to provide emergency shelter when people need it most is more critical than ever,” added Michael Redmond, Executive Director of the Upper Valley Haven. “We urge lawmakers to prioritize the health and safety of Vermonters by ensuring the GA Emergency Housing Program remains fully funded without caps.”
A copy of the letter to Governor Scott can be found here.