by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth issued the following statement after Senate Republicans blocked an attempt to pass the revised House Budget Adjustment Act bill that retained language to extend the Hotel/Motel program for the homeless through June, for a program that is scheduled to end in April. Senate Republicans also issued a statement on why they supported Governor Scott's position on retaining the program on a limited basis. Scott had vetoed the first iteration of the $163 million BAA. The governor then this afternoon signed an executive order extending the Hotel/Motel program for families with children and medically vulnerable individuals who were scheduled to exit the General Assistance program on April 1.
Baruth said: “For nearly ten years, we have heard Governor Scott highlight his commitment to compromise and to protecting the most vulnerable. Today, he is refusing to do both: rejecting our compromise and choosing to put the vulnerable Vermonters he has repeatedly vowed to protect on the street.
“In light of Governor Scott’s veto of the FY25 Budget Adjustment Act (H.141), House and Senate leadership agreed to a painful compromise. We gave Governor Scott every single thing he asked for and had only one request: that he allow the hundreds of children, pregnant women, disabled Vermonters, seniors, veterans, and those fleeing domestic violence who have nowhere else to go to remain housed. No exception.
“And make no mistake, this isn’t about money. Keeping these vulnerable Vermonters housed would not require additional money. But the Governor has still been unwilling to agree to this compromise and has asked us to pick which groups are deserving of shelter and which are not: Should seniors be allowed to stay? Pregnant women? Veterans? Who is least deserving? We will not be forced to choose."
Senate Republican Response to 3/28 H.489 Vote
On March 28, the Vermont Senate voted on Sen. Baruth’s motion to suspend rules and allow for a vote on H.489, the second attempt at a Budget Adjustment Act (BAA). Governor Scott vetoed the first BAA that the Legislature passed because the Governor wanted to keep all available money on hand from FY25 to compensate for any Federal programs that might be reduced, as well as concerns about extending emergency winter housing in the hotel/motel program through June 1. In the Senate vote on March 28, the Republican caucus voted unanimously to oppose suspending the rules to allow for an expedited vote on H.489 as negotiations are ongoing.
Reasons for voting against Sen. Baruth’s motion are threefold:
Firstly, we have spent hundreds of millions of dollars on this program since it was expanded during the pandemic, money that could have been spent far more efficiently on congregate shelters and agencies committed to solving Vermont’s homeless crisis.
Secondly, this program does nothing to address the underlying causes of homelessness, whether they be mental health or the rapidly rising costs of housing in our State. Congregate shelters are far better equipped to help our most vulnerable than leaving them isolated and stranded in hotel rooms. Vermont agencies can provide wrap-around services, counseling, medical care, and help people transition to permanent stable housing.
Thirdly, Vermont has experienced 135 deaths in the hotel/motel program since 2020. Of those deaths, 42% were from poisoning, mostly drug overdoses, there have been two homicides, and many other deaths were caused by preexisting conditions that could have been more properly addressed in congregant housing.
Senate Republicans, along with Governor Scott, have concluded that this program has failed and Vermont needs to transition to a congregate shelter system modeled after shelters in Williston and Waterbury. In these high-quality shelters the unhoused can access much-needed mental health services, receive job assistance, connect with medical providers, and transition into stable permanent housing.
There was understandable concern by our Democratic colleagues that if we do nothing, many multitudes of children will be evicted from their hotel rooms on April 1. However, the Department of Children and Families (DCF) confirms that nearly 500 households have already been pre-authorized to access a hotel room on April 1. Senate Republicans want to clarify that come April 1, the hotel-motel program will not be ending, rather the system will transition as was agreed to by the Democrat supermajority and Governor Scott 10 months ago. Winter emergency housing is ending and the normal capacity of the hotel-motel program is being implemented. We disagree with accusations by our Democratic colleagues on the Floor that Republicans are Godless, heartless, and without empathy. This type of language does not serve Vermonters well, unnecessarily divides, and is beneath the Senate. We will not respond in kind and patiently hope for a private apology and productive debate moving forward.
To ensure that none of the unhoused are left out on the street come April 1, the Administration has already taken steps to ensure available shelter capacity including: extending the Williston family shelter through 2025 with the help of a local provider, extending the Waterbury family shelter through mid-June this year to provide continuity for children during the school year, expanding family shelter capacity with plans for permanent family shelters in Burlington, Rutland, Bennington, and Central Vermont, extending and expanding Medical Respite capacity in the central Vermont and Chittenden County regions, and preparing to add an intensive recovery housing site for those who need an integrated model of housing and substance use treatment.
In negotiations with Democratic leaders in the Legislature, Governor Scott has already offered a plan that truly helps our most vulnerable. We urge our Democratic colleagues to consider this proposal and agree to a BAA that achieves consensus and continues to protect the most vulnerable Vermonters.
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
