BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A heated debate Monday night between the Mayor, city councilors, and the public on how to handle Burlington’s homelessness crisis.
With funding running dry and eligibility becoming stricter for the state’s general assistance program known as the hotel “Motel” Program, the council is trying to find a way to prepare for winter with approximately 300 homeless people.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak outlined a plan of what she thought the city was capable of, including increasing police staffing, hiring more social service workers, staffing the front desk of the Burlington Police Department, and hiring a community safety advisor.
The city has applied for a grant from the Agency of Human Services to expand emergency shelter capacity.
Whether or not the city can or should run a shelter was a major point of contention.
Some councilors say the state should take on the burden, others believe neighboring cities like Winooksi and South Burlington should step up. Mayor Mulvaney-Stanak says her preliminary plan is to partner with homelessness experts.
“You have to meet people where they are, but don’t leave them there, and I think the ‘don’t leave them’ part is where we have failed, as a city, as a state,” said city councilor Joan Shannon.
As of now, no actions have been taken on this agenda item.