Vermont Legislative Update About Homelessness June 13, 2025

June 13

Landlord Connections Events in Burlington, St. Albans, and Middlebury Hear from CVOEO, VT Department of Housing & Community Development, Vermont Landlords Association, and others about programs and resources for landlords such as grants and forgivable loans through the Vermont Housing Improvement Program (VHIP) and support from the Landlord Relief Program, and the impact of federal policy on rental assistance funding; learn about fair housing rights and responsibilities, including affirmative advertising and assistance animals; and connect with other landlords. Each event will have free hearty snacks and sodas, with cash bar available. These events are designed for smaller landlords and property managers and all housing providers are welcome! Reserve your spot today at https://forms.office.com/r/PPmGFyA0Wt.

For more info, please contact Jess Hyman at jhyman@cvoeo.org or 802-660-3456 x 106

ADDISON COUNTY: Tuesday, June 24, 5:30-7:30pm at the Middlebury Inn, 16 Court Square, Middlebury (RSVP deadline: June 20)
FRANKLIN & GRAND ISLE COUNTIES: Wednesday, June 25, 5-7pm at The Depot, 50 Kingman St., St. Albans (RSVP deadline: June 23)
CHITTENDEN COUNTY: Monday, June 30, 5:30-7:30pm at the Venetian Soda Lounge, 266 Pine St., Burlington (RSVP deadline: June 26)

GA Emergency Housing 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. In terms of impact, according to the April Housing Report (Act 113), 303 households, including 366 adults and 59 children, lost their shelter through the GA program after the winter weather protections ended on March 31. According to the most recent DCF data, as of June 9 there are only 1,032 households currently in GA emergency housing, down from approximately 1,450 households during winter weather protections.

In addition, according to a letter released last week by ESD, for households who have been sheltered in a hotel or motel under Executive Order No. 03-25, any days used under this executive order count toward the household’s 80-day limit within a 12-month period. As of June 9 there are 387 households in GA under the EO who will be negatively impacted by this.

At the Legislature:

Emergency Housing H.91 was vetoed by Governor Scott on Wednesday. It is highly unlikely that there will be the votes necessary for the legislature to override the Governor’s veto. As a reminder, this bill would have impacted Vermont’s homelessness prevention and response system beginning in FY27. This bill/veto has no impact on FY 26 General Assistance or HOP funds. FY26 GA and HOP funds were included in the FY26 state budget, which the governor has already signed (see below). Here is HHAV’s FAQ document on General Assistance Emergency Housing for FY26 (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).

FY 26 Budget Governor Scott signed the FY26 budget on May 21. Here is a summary of some of the housing and homelessness related provisions in the budget.

Community Housing and Infrastructure Program (CHIP) CHIP will allow a developer, municipality, or other agency to borrow money for infrastructure for a specific housing project and then use the increased tax revenue from the development to pay back the debt. This provision is in S.127, which Governor Scott signed this week.