Vermont's Homeless Face Crisis as Motel Voucher Program Ends

Vermont's decision to conclude its pandemic-era motel voucher program has sparked a significant crisis for the state's homeless population. As of fall 2024, hundreds of vulnerable individuals and families are being required to vacate state-funded motel rooms, a move that has elicited strong reactions from municipal leaders and advocates.

On September 26, 2024, approximately 230 households are expected to depart from their temporary motel accommodations due to a newly imposed 80-day limit. This exodus includes families, individuals with disabilities, older adults, pregnant women, and survivors of domestic violence or natural disasters. The situation is further complicated by a 1,110-room cap on motel usage for homeless housing, which took effect on September 22, 2024.

Jen Armbrister, an outreach case manager for the Good Samaritan Haven in Barre, estimates that around 1,000 households will be displaced statewide. The central Vermont area, encompassing Montpelier and Barre, is expected to see 100 to 140 families leaving motels this fall.

The housing crisis in Vermont has reached alarming proportions. According to a recent assessment by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Vermont had the second-highest per capita rate of homelessness in the country in 2023. The state's rental vacancy rate stands at a mere 3%, with Chittenden County, home to Burlington, Vermont's largest city, reporting an estimated 1% vacancy rate.

"It bothers me because I'm a veteran and I don't believe that veterans should be having to deal with this."

The situation has left many individuals, like Nova and Bruce Jewett, facing uncertain futures. Bruce, a 63-year-old disabled veteran battling cancer, must leave the Hilltop Inn on October 1, 2024. Similarly, Heidi Wright, a 50-year-old woman with multiple health issues, is set to depart from the Budget Inn on September 28, 2024.

Local governments and service providers are struggling to manage the impacts of this crisis. William Fraser, Montpelier's City Manager, expressed concern about the strain on first responders, public spaces, and nonprofit partners.

Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, acknowledged the challenges but emphasized the unsustainability of the hotel-motel program. The state is working towards establishing more shelters as a long-term solution, although previous attempts to set up emergency shelters saw limited use.

To address the housing shortage and homelessness crisis, Vermont needs to create between 24,000 and 36,000 homes from 2025 to 2029, according to the most recent Vermont Housing Needs Assessment. This ambitious goal reflects the tripling of homelessness rates in the state between 2019 and 2023.

As winter approaches, those affected by the program's end will become eligible for motel housing again on December 1, 2024. However, the intervening months present a significant challenge for Vermont's most vulnerable residents, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive solutions to the state's housing crisis.