I am a former homeless individual who has experienced firsthand the challenges faced by those without a home. Once due to an apartment fire, and another time because of COVID Pneumonia that led me into a medically induced coma, I found myself in need of emergency housing. Thanks to Pathways of VT, I now have a roof over my head. But not everyone is as fortunate.

The unhoused population in Vermont includes seniors, disabled individuals, families with children, young adults and even minimum wage workers. These are not just faces we see on the streets; they are people with stories similar to mine who have fallen on hard times.

Unfortunately, many areas in our state lack shelters and those operating under the Emergency Housing Program do not offer onsite mental health services or educational programs. This leaves no way for these individuals to climb out of their crisis situation.

Moreover, despite having a housing shortage in our state, we also have means to build more homes. It's high time we put these resources into action for those who need it most.

Let's urge Vermont officials to look into rehabilitating our unhoused population by providing adequate shelter facilities equipped with necessary support services like mental health care and education programs while addressing our housing shortage issue simultaneously.

The Services are already here in Vermont even offered to illegal immigrants. The stigma attached to the unhoused even by professionals in the mental health field and Nurses in the emergency room. Bring these services onsite and require service plans with caseworkers following their progress. Charge 30% of their income and food stamps so they can have warm meals. Create an atmosphere of sobriety. As they climb their way up have an efficiency onsite to continue monitoring progress so they can have a chance until more housing is built. 

Affordable Housing isn't affordable for minimum wage workers and jobs are vacant without workers rehabilitation of the unhoused may be one of many answers to the crisis.

Funding could come from Medicaid, the Criminal Justice System, Food Stamps,.HUD, government funding, and 30% of participants income, I'm sure a few other sources as well grant writers would know more on how to support such a program. Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System already play a role in the unhoused population as many of the unhoused are their clients as well. Yet many have never had such issues. The State of VT is investing in rehabilitating criminals, the mental health system, and the war on illicit substance abuse. Our state gets funding for mental health, addictions, and education to create these services by bringing them onsite would reduce stigma and boundaries. 

Please sign this petition if you believe that everyone deserves a safe place they can call home that they should work towards keeping in programs that rehabilitate them. The unhoused have fallen within the social/economical system as a socio glass ceiling has been created through the crisis of housing shortage and the pandemic seen by covid. Your signature could make all the difference for someone struggling right now.

Vermont currently has a program paying out of staters to move to Vermont when the funds could be used to rehabilitate the unhoused there are also plans in the works to bring illegals to Vermont and pave the way for them. We should be worrying about our own citizens through rehabilitating the unhoused and building more affordable housing. Vermont is a Sanctuary State but The rate of homelessness in Vermont was 2nd highest in the U.S. please help the unhoused. 

Federal Funding for Housing: 

Urge VT legislation and government to spend the money on shelters and affordable housing as well as sober living facilities and rehabilitate the unhoused.

 https://share.newsbreak.com/6frxypgp

A documentary on the unhoused: https://share.newsbreak.com/6cl0lcev

Well Spoken in regards to stigma and the unhoused:.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4JppQcv2Gg/?igsh=eTF6NHNvOWNhcmc=​

https://www.vnews.com/Vermont-s-new-motel-room-limits-are-primed-to-push-out-hundreds-of-households-this-fall-56598190