My wife and I stand on the precipice of an overwhelming reality – homelessness. Just like too many others in Vermont, we are about to be thrown onto the streets. The fear, the uncertainty, and the despair are realities we face every passing day.

Vermont's voucher program offers short-term emergency housing during inclement weather conditions, offering up to 80 nights in a hotel. While we are grateful for these resources, we realize they fall woefully short of meeting the depth of the crisis. 80 nights are not sufficient when faced with long-term homelessness.

According to the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition, nearly 1,100 people were experiencing homelessness on one night alone in January 2020. This figure does not just represent a statistic, rather real people like my wife and I, grappling with these predicaments each day.

Thus, we call upon the Vermont State Government to extend the hotel voucher programs' limit from 80 nights to 2000 nights. This would not only offer us a more stable solution but would also provide thousands like us with the chance to regain our footing, reintegrate into society, and break free from the relentless cycle of homelessness.

We understand the implications of such an extension – it is not just about more nights in a hotel, but about investing in the human spirit, in dignity and hope.

We urge you to stand with us in this fight against homelessness in Vermont and sign this petition to extend the hotel voucher program. There are more than a thousand stories waiting to be heard, let ours be the catalyst for change. Sign this petition today.