UPDATE: Motel Program "Compromise"
Since May 14, 2023, PEN has been sending links to articles regarding the beginning of the end of the motel program for thousands of Vermonters. See these PEN Issues:
Montpelier PEN Special Issue: The Homelessness Emergency 5/14/23
Montpelier Public Engagement Newsletter (PEN): Issue #14 The Homeless Emergency in Vermont & Country Club Road Site Project Next Steps 5/21/23
Montpelier PEN Special Issue: Politicians to evict thousands of homeless Vermonters from motels beginning just days from now 5/28/23
Montpelier PEN UPDATE The eviction of thousands of homeless Vermonters from motels has begun 6/4/23
Montpelier PEN UPDATE (6/11/23): The eviction of thousands of homeless Vermonters from motels continues
Montpelier PEN Update: The Status of the Motel Program for Homeless Vermonters (6/19/23)
If you’ve been reading some or most of these articles, I feel sure you understand, as I have said repeatedly:
None of this needed to happen; it was all foreseeable and avoidable, and yet the Democratic party legislative supermajority and the Republican governor who was overwhelmingly re-elected by Vermonters across the political spectrum in 2022 did nothing to prevent this from happening and are still doing almost nothing but blame each other.
Yes, they finally arrived at what some, like Montpelier Rep. Conor Casey are calling a compromise, but make no mistake, this agreement, which was worked out at the proverbial 11th hour “behind closed doors” by the Democratic Legislative leadership and the Governor’s staff is a cruel and unjust political deal to make them all look blameless.
First read the accounts in the mainstream Vermont media:
Lawmakers approve deal to extend motel shelter for some until the spring (VT Digger, 6/20/23)
Vermont legislature extends emergency housing, overrides state budget veto (Vermont Public, 6/20/23)
Confused? Now read these analytical pieces about what really happened and why.
The Voucher Deal: Better Than Nothing, Worse Than It Ought to Be (The Vermont Political Observer, 6/20/23)
Vermont Democrats Spend a Pleasant Tuesday Slappin’ Around the Most Popular Governor in the Country (The Vermont Political Observer, 6/21/23)
This Is Not Going Away (The Vermont Political Observer, 6/22/23)
And finally, read about Brenda Siegel, the person who worked tirelessly to prevent this tragedy and knows this is less than a compromise…. (1000+ people with low-incomeshave been exited from motels to the streets and will not be allowed back into the program and Vermonters who become homeless from here on out---as emergency rental assistance ends, Medicaid and SNAP benefits are cut back, and no-cause evictions accelerate---will not be eligible for the motel program).... but more than nothing ( 2000 Vermonters, many with disabilities, families, in recovery, fleeing domestic violence, all too poor to afford skyrocketing rental prices or unable to find rental unit whose owners are willing to accept Section 8 vouchers)... who have been living in motels (some since the pandemic began) NOW will continue to be able to do so until next spring.
Taking the Win by Kevin Ellis (www.kevinellis.com)
Country Club Road Site (CCRS) Project
At next Wednesday’s City Council meeting, the City’s consultants will present their
Actionable Master Plan for the Country Club Road Site to the City Council
All are urged to attend and to listen carefully and with an open mind to the presentation, to questions and comments from the City Council, and to comments from the public.
6/24/23 City Council Meeting
6:30 PM City Council Chambers, City Hall
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86895822381?pwd=bEhsS0wrektvQmJnYnZwWTZ1YmJ6UT09
Meeting ID: 868 9582 2381 Passcode: 898419 One tap mobile: (312)-626-6799
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