At Thursday’s vigil on the Statehouse steps and joint legislative hearing on homelessness, Vermonters who have experienced homelessness and service providers were among the voices urging lawmakers to consider long-term solutions. Linda Ryan, co-chair of the Governor’s Council on Pathways out of Poverty, asked the state to fund more rental subsidies, in light of declining federal support.
According to recent estimates from the Vermont State Housing Authority, 911 fewer Vermont households received Section 8 vouchers in 2013 due to federal sequestration and inadequate funding levels. The state would need an estimated $6.19 million to fully compensate for the loss of federal funds for housing vouchers.
Last year, emergency shelters served 4,285 Vermonters who were homeless, including 816 children.
Learn more about Thursday’s vigil and hearing from New England Cable News and Vermont Public Radio.
For more information on Vermonters experiencing homelessness and the activities of the service providers who serve them, check out the 2013 Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) Vermont Annual Report.