Vermonters, we have a housing emergency, and it will reach crisis proportions this summer. If that sounds alarmist, it only hints at how alarming it will be for Vermonters experiencing homelessness and the cities, towns and villages of Vermont that will need to respond to people without shelter in their communities.
Despite all the talk about housing being everyone’s No. 1 priority, the only plan offered for the coming year is a massive unhousing of those currently in hotel-based shelter. This program has been funded with federal Covid-emergency dollars that are due to run out this month. The Budget Adjustment Act is set to extend the Vermont funding through May with surplus state funding, but come July, funds to shelter those without housing will need to come from the fiscal year 2024 budget.
