HHAV's Legislative Update

April 19

At the Legislature:

GA Winter Weather Protections Update Following the Governor’s veto of the BAA, which would have extended winter weather protections to all statutorily defined “vulnerable” unhoused Vermonters, Governor Scott signed Executive Order 03-25, which waived the 80-night cap for a limited number of GA eligible households. Specifically, the 80-night cap is waived for:

families with children under 19; and
the most medically vulnerable defined as an individual who:
meets the Medicare definition of “homebound,” such as someone who relies on the medically necessary assistance of another person or medical equipment such as a wheelchair for mobility and other essential functions;
who requires a lifesaving device that requires access to electricity, such as an oxygen concentrator;
is in active cancer treatment or treatment for severe kidney/renal disease, or severe liver or heart conditions;
is actively receiving Medicaid-eligible or Medicare-eligible “home-based” nursing services (like VNA visits, or hospice); or
is a woman in the third trimester of pregnancy or a woman who will enter the third trimester of pregnancy during the period April 1, 2025 to June 30, 2025.

As of April 14, there are 1,109 households in the GA program, down from 1,415 households on March 31.

Emergency Housing H.91, which would shift the state’s homelessness response system to a regional model led by the CAPs, has passed the House and is currently being considered by the Senate Health and Welfare Committee. As currently drafted, these changes would include what is currently under HOP/OEO and GA/ESD. In addition, under H.91 the VT Network would lead the statewide shelter and case management work for people impacted by domestic and sexual violence.

Here is HHAV’s testimony to Senate Health and Welfare re: H.91. If you would like to testify on H.91, please contact the Senate Health and Welfare Committee clerk as soon as possible. Her contact is: Kiki Carasi-Schwartz at KCarasi-Schwartz@leg.state.vt.us.

The Senate Health and Welfare Committee will continue to work on H.91 next week.

FY 26 Budget The Senate Appropriations committee continues to work on the FY26 state budget. We understand that the committee plans to vote on the FY26 budget by next Wednesday. Here is a summary (not inclusive of all related spending) where the Committee is currently:

Base Appropriations:

$36.9M – VHCB to fully fund its PTT statutory share
$2.15M - DHCD for the Manufactured Home Improvement and Repair Program
$1.63M - Land Access Opportunity Board
$29.7M - Housing Opportunity Grant Program (HOP)
Two new positions in the Human Rights Commission
$10M – H.91 Emergency Housing – These funds are currently envisioned as follows:
$6.5M - Community Action Agencies and the Network
$500K - For contractual and other system transformation assistance
$3M - Development of shelter capacity

One Time Appropriations:

$30.5M - GA Emergency Housing
2M - DCF for shelter bed expansion
$5M - VHCB housing initiatives
$4.15M - VHIP funding and one position
$14M - VHFA Middle-Income Homeownership Development Program
$1M – VHFA First Time Homebuyer
$9.1M - Vermont Bond Bank Infrastructure Sustainability Fund
$2.1M - DHCD for housing development assistance
$235K - DAIL for the HomeShare Program
$15K - DHCD for the Residential Universal Design Study Committee
$4.4M - AHS for SASH and Blueprint for Health programs
$300K - VDH for Recovery Residences is removed from the budget with a note that it will be funded with additional prevention funds from cannabis receipts.

Additional Appropriation in Budget:

$2.8M – Completion of Act 186 Pilot Project (Developmental Disabilities Housing Initiative)