This bill establishes two temporary housing programs for Vermonters in crisis during fiscal years 2027-2028: the Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program (TEHAP) and the Return Home Program (RHP). It directly affects individuals and households without fixed housing or at immediate risk of losing housing within seven days, including those experiencing homelessness, domestic violence, or with disabilities. Key provisions include setting strict eligibility criteria, requiring case management services to connect participants with permanent housing and support, transitioning away from hotel/motel reliance toward sustainable options like recovery housing and the Vermont Housing Investment Program (VHIP), and implementing accountability measures for program oversight. The bill mandates a tiered care approach and requires active participant engagement to achieve housing stability.
H 195 would require Vermont's Department for Children and Families to provide monthly cash payments to homeless and runaway youth aged 18 to 24. The bill directly affects this specific age group experiencing housing instability, offering a regular income stream. The key provision establishes a formal process for distributing these payments through the state's child welfare agency.
H 456 creates a state-funded community support system for individuals recently released from incarceration or with prior criminal justice involvement who face homelessness or need housing. It allocates $1.3 million for housing grants through Pathways Vermont, $1 million for community housing development (prioritizing Black, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, disabled, and women), and $1 million for residential treatment of substance use and mental health conditions. Additional funds support recovery services, restorative justice programs, and community-based case management. The bill redirects resources from new prison construction toward housing, health services, and economic opportunities to reduce recidivism. It directly affects justice-involved individuals experiencing housing instability or needing health support upon release.
H 246 requires all postsecondary schools in Vermont to designate a Student Liaison Officer to assist students experiencing homelessness and those exiting the foster care system with financial aid, housing, and academic resources. Schools must implement policies providing these students priority access to class enrollment, on-campus housing (with a half-time enrollment requirement), and housing during breaks. The bill also mandates fee waivers for registration and laboratory costs for eligible students. These requirements will take effect on July 1, 2025.
H 376 requires all alcoholic beverages sold in Vermont to display clear labels showing alcohol content in U.S. Standard Drinks, along with cancer warnings and serving facts (like calories and sugar). It increases taxes on beer, hard cider, wine, and spirits, with future tax hikes tied to inflation starting in 2027. The bill creates the Treatment and Recovery Fund, which will use all new tax revenue to fund mental health services in schools and alcohol treatment/supportive housing programs. This affects alcohol manufacturers, retailers, and consumers across Vermont by changing labeling rules, raising costs for certain beverages, and directing new tax revenue to public health services.
This bill prohibits Vermont municipalities from passing laws that criminalize basic activities like sleeping, camping, or resting on public property for unhoused individuals. It creates state-funded grants to support municipal programs offering housing assistance, mental health care, job training, and temporary shelter in designated "humanitarian zones" with access to sanitation and water. Municipalities must report annually on homelessness progress and include homelessness strategies in local planning. The bill also requires the state to expand low-barrier housing programs and establish a task force to oversee implementation.
H.91 establishes the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing (VHEARTH) Program to replace existing homelessness services. It directly affects Vermonters experiencing homelessness, including children, seniors, and Black residents who face disproportionate homelessness rates (5.6x higher than white residents). Key provisions include ending reliance on hotel/motel stays for shelter, expanding permanent emergency shelters, and requiring regional advisory councils with diverse representation to guide the program. The bill aims to eliminate unsheltered homelessness by 2027 and transition people to permanent housing, using funds previously allocated to the General Assistance Program (phased out by 2027). Note: The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 11, 2025.
H 445 creates the Land Access and Opportunity Revolving Fund to support affordable housing for historically marginalized communities in Vermont. It is funded by a 1.5% income tax surcharge on earnings above $500,000 (repealed in 2031), administered by a new Land Access and Opportunity Board. The fund provides grants or loans for tenant-owned housing purchases, multi-unit renovations, cooperative housing development, and transitional housing projects with priority for marginalized groups. Projects must align with community resource integration, sustainable design, and support for those facing homelessness, disabilities, or justice system involvement.
H 197 would establish state-funded peer support positions across Vermont, staffed by individuals with lived experience of homelessness to directly assist unhoused residents in securing stable housing. The bill creates a formal program where peer supporters - trained and compensated by the state - would provide practical guidance on housing resources, navigate bureaucratic systems, and offer empathetic support to people facing homelessness. This approach leverages personal experience to improve housing outcomes, targeting unhoused Vermonters who need assistance transitioning to stable housing. The initiative is structured under the state's human services framework and is currently under review by the Committee on Human Services.
