Vermont Public Radio's "Vermont Edition" devoted an episode to Vermont's Section 8 housing voucher crunch last week.
Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) Executive Director Richard Williams appeared on the show, speaking about VSHA's decision to close its 3,000-name waiting list at the end of this month.
At the request of the Vermont Child Poverty Council, students and faculty of Dartmouth's Policy Research Shop prepared a report titled "Poverty in Vermont: Reduction and Profiles," which describes the population of Vermonters in poverty and identifies areas for further research and action.
The report concludes:
The number of people served in Vermont’s shelters rose by 8% during state fiscal year 2010, when compared to 2009, according to Emergency Shelter Grant program figures released this month by Vermont’s Office of Economic Opportunity.
This was the largest jump of the decade, up to a total of 3,834 people, 22% of whom were children.
As biographies for speakers scheduled to appear at the Vermont Statewide Housing Conference roll in, we're struck by the breadth and depth of knowledge that'll be shared at the Nov. 18 event.