Vermont Business Magazine Following a suit filed by Vermont Legal Aid regarding the termination of the hotel housing program run and paid for by the Vermont Agency of Human Resources, the court has approved a plan presented by Legal Aid and HHS to extend to program for two more weeks for eligible people with certain disabilities. It extends the program for those people by two weeks. For all people who must leave the program, which accounts for more than 600 people, HHS is offering $2,500 plus another $8,000 in housing assistance.
The hotel program was greatly expanded at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure housing for homeless or others who fit the eligibility rules. The state is ending the expanded program July 1, though some people will continue to be accommodated. Legal Aid sued the state to continue the program.
The state maintains that the financial obligation of the expanded program is unsustainable and intends to use federal funds to find permanent housing.
Below is the statement from HHS.
Statement of Department for Children and Families Commissioner Sean Brown Concerning Stipulated Temporary Order in Gray-Rand v. Vermont Agency of Human Services
I am pleased that this morning the parties in Gray-Rand v. Vermont Agency of Human Services agreed to a Stipulated Temporary Order (SEE BELOW) that will allow Vermonters enrolled in the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program an additional 14 days to gather documentation needed to demonstrate that they meet the new rule’s definition of “disability.” This agreement, approved by the Court, provides recipients of this benefit the time needed to demonstrate eligibility under the new definition. Current beneficiaries who would prefer a monetary payment may still elect a $2,500 one-time payment.
The Agency of Human Services and Department of Children and Families will be responding to the underlying complaint in the coming weeks.
Individuals looking for information about whether they qualify for the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program may contact the Department’s Benefits Services Division at 1-800-479-6151 or walk into your local district office, located throughout the state. A complete list of the district offices may be found here: https://dcf.vermont.gov/esd/contact-us/districts
Source: HHS 6.30.2021