Vt. Legal Aid asks court to delay DCF rules ending hotel vouchers for hundreds Friday

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont Legal Aid is asking a judge to delay state regulations that would kick hundreds of homeless Vermonters out of the state’s hotel motel program on Friday.

Upwards of 500 people are set to be kicked out of their state-funded motel rooms on Friday as the emergency program’s wintertime adverse weather regulations expire. The Scott administration is scrambling to open four temporary shelters, but critics say that the plan falls far short of what is needed.

Department for Children and Families Commissioner Chris Winters says the annual expiration of the winter rules was standard before the pandemic but that considering the increased numbers of people depending on the program now, the state is trying to provide a bridge, opening shelters around the state. “These temporary shelters are just an additional step down for those who haven’t made plans yet, to try to connect them with services to allow them a little bit more time… The state has never provided this type of step down shelter before. We thought it was important this year given the large numbers and the lack of affordable housing.”

However, some lawmakers remain critical of the Scott administration’s plans. “We find the action around the un-housing of people from the hotels with such poor planning to be totally unacceptable,” said Rep. Theresa Wood, D-Washington/Chittenden, who chairs the House Committee on Human Services.

Wood was joined by House Speaker Jill Krowinski, D-Burlington, Friday poking holes in the plan and saying more needs to be done. “Lives are at risk, communities are completely in the dark,” Krowinski said.

Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger late Thursday added his voice to the opposition for temporary shelters, including at the state building at 108 Cherry Street in Burlington. “It is shocking that the State’s motel guests, Vermont cities, affected downtowns, schools, law enforcement officials, and service providers are being given hours to prepare for the opening of four huge temporary shelters around the state,” Weinberger said in a statement. He urged officials to continue the Adverse Weather Condition program through Sunday night.

Those temporary shelters that are being set up will be in Burlington, Berlin, Bennington, and Rutland. State officials say how long they stay open will depend on if they are being used. They also say some of those set to lose their vouchers can qualify to stay on if they have a documented disability or health condition.

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