MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Advocates for the homeless are raising red flags about an upcoming deadline when people may lose their hotel housing.
Vermont lawmakers are working on a midyear budget bill that includes funding for the pandemic-era hotel voucher program. But advocates say one of the proposals under consideration would mean many people would be evicted on March 15.
Friday, people living in hotels shared their stories with key lawmakers, stressing the shelter is critical.
Advocate Brenda Siegel says the uncertainty of losing shelter leaves people in a lurch.
“If any of us truly understood what we were doing, Vermonters would not tolerate this level of inhumanity and disregard for people living in our state,” Siegel said.
Vermont pays about $130 a night for the hotel rooms. State lawmakers are looking to renegotiate that rate to about $75 a night. But some are concerned hotel owners won’t accept the lower rates and will evict people.
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