For Immediate Release
September 21, 2021
SPEAKER KROWINSKI STATEMENT ON DECISION TO EXTEND GENERAL ASSISTANCE EMERGENCY HOUSING PROGRAM TO KEEP VULNERABLE VERMONTERS HOUSED
Montpelier, Vt. - Today, Speaker of the House Jill Krowinski issued the following statement following Governor Scott’s decision to extend the deadline for General Assistance Emergency Housing (GA), the program essential to housing people with disabilities, those experiencing homelessness and other vulnerable individuals:
“Leading up to the GA housing deadline, which would have forced more than 540 households to leave hotels and motels, legislators have received an outpouring of concern and frustration from our constituents and Vermonters across the state insisting upon an extension to keep families and individuals housed, as well as a better solution to this crisis. The administration, legislature, and our community advocates worked together last spring to create a plan for the future of the GA program, but it was a much different time in the pandemic. At this time, when we are seeing the Delta variant continue to impact communities in all 14 counties, it would be disastrous to put people in the precarious position of scrambling to find new living situations during a statewide housing shortage.
“I thank the Governor and his staff for making the important decision to extend the deadline for housing assistance and to give the Department for Children and Families and our community partners more time to identify housing solutions for those in need. As Vermonters, we have, and continue, to do our part to work together and find creative solutions to support each other and keep our communities healthy and safe throughout the pandemic. It is more critical than ever to think outside the box and look into any and all housing opportunities during the next 30 days.
“I firmly believe that it is important that we continue to monitor the situation as we approach the extension deadline, and further extend the deadline if we believe we need more time to create housing solutions. We know that we have the funds to support this population, and it is imperative that we remain nimble and innovative in the ways we transition our most vulnerable Vermonters to permanent housing with support services.
“Again, I thank the Governor for extending the emergency housing deadline for those most in need. We have the opportunity to make significant progress in developing long-term housing for those most in need, and working together, I know we can do it.”
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