August 31, 2022
SPEAKER KROWINSKI, PRESIDENT PRO TEM BALINT STATEMENT ON THE ANNOUNCED CHANGES TO THE VERMONT EMERGENCY RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
“In our conversations with Vermonters across the state, it’s clear that housing is their top concern. Access to affordable housing, safe and healthy rental units, and housing supports for Vermonters experiencing homelessness come up in nearly every conversation.
“Many of the federally-funded programs to help Vermonters make it through the pandemic, and ongoing recovery effort, were designed to be temporary support systems. One of these programs, Vermont’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP), has been incredibly beneficial to Vermonters, but we knew that it would not be available in perpetuity. However, the changes the Administration announced today are unexpected, and may create serious problems for many renters who were relying on continued support to get back on their feet.
“We know that many of Vermont’s pre-existing services will still be available to those in need, and we appreciate the Administration’s efforts to prioritize funding to protect those currently in transitional housing in hotels and motels, and to help extend benefits through the winter months. However, we are very concerned that the proposed changes happened without consulting an engaged group of stakeholders who have been working on these issues for years. Collaborating with those with lived experience and those in direct service is essential to reduce the impact of these changes and to make long-term plans for how we support Vermonters across the housing spectrum.
“We’re also concerned that as members of the legislature, we still don’t have clear and detailed information from the Administration about how we arrived at this point, how many people will be impacted, and what other supports are available to Vermonters during this transition. There has been significant progress made in getting Vermonters into stable housing, and we don’t want to see that progress eroded. We’ll be focused on monitoring the ongoing implementation of these programs and helping Vermonters access resources. We will also work with our community partners to strengthen long-term planning for how best to support those facing a housing crisis.”
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