Not really be him, but I sure would love his intellect and ability to debate. Let me tell you why.
In the past, regarding the “unsheltered” or homeless situation here in Vermont, I have repeatedly asked or stated on VDC that there are no residency or proof of residency requirements in the process of applying for social benefits and it should be made as part of the process. I had gone to the website to apply for housing and looked at the form back in June of ’23. No proof of anything was needed. Now, there were more forms to be filled once I had started the process but since I didn’t want to be fraudulent, I stopped. Well, it turns out I was wrong. Supposedly, it is unconstitutional to require proof of residency. It has been argued many times. Shapiro (not Ben) v. Thompson, 1969 and King v. New Rochelle Municipal Housing Authority, 1971 among many others.
I had a discussion with our Vermont Senator Nader Hashim, D-Windham, on Monday the 8th. The Chamber of Commerce of Wilmington invited elected officials to coffee. It turned out to be a “let us tell you what wonderful things we are doing and don’t contradict us” kind of event. But that is a story for another day. Before it began, he and I chatted and I asked him about the a motto he has on his website, “Housing is a human right”. He believes if people have housing it will reduce crime and other issues. Since I didn’t know it was unconstitutional, I was schooled to this fact, and I was unable to continue discussing except to keep repeating, “rights are not tangible or material items”. Nobody has the right to a house. Eventually he conceded that everyone has the right to access housing. Which I believe they do already. But that is very different than “housing is a human right”. I have been doing a great deal of reading on rights and honestly, it’s a lot. I haven’t even “dipped a toe” metaphorically speaking and I’ve already spent close to five hours reading and searching. And a lot more to go.
What do you all think? Should someone have to prove residency before receiving benefits from a state institution?
Sources:
http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/newresidents.htm
https://law.jrank.org/pages/9827/Residency-Fundamental-Rights.html
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Categories: Opinion
Interesting question. Combined with the flood of illegal migrants housing for all could quickly bankrupt our State. I’m curious. Is citizenship required to access these benefits?
As Ms. Baker aptly says, material benefits are not constitutional rights. We have the right to own a firearm. But that doesn’t mean the government is required to buy it for us. Benefits are a legislative aspect. If the congress wants to give stuff away, the only way to stop them is to elect alternate representation.
Mr. Eshelman, I surely would love to vote those folks out of office and am volunteering to do just that. Thank you for commenting.
Mr. Pipes, go to the second link under “Sources”. It does explain that a bit. I live in the tristate area in southern Vermont. How easy would it be for me to zip down to MA, state I’m homeless and do a bit of acting and get some benefits? And then zip up to NH and do the same. Technically, it’s not far to NY and do the same thing. If I am homeless, I never have to worry they will show up to my home here in Vermont. I could really game the system.
Now, having said that, I don’t know the entire process. Only the first application. One would hope there is some sort of verification process but these days, who knows. What restrictions or systems are in place to prevent fraud and abuse. If I was a legislator that is the questions I would be having. And I stand behind my opinion that if you determine how they became homeless to begin with and solve that problem, it would solve their homeless situation. They were somewhere once. Not sure why that is such a difficult concept but clearly it is. I must be missing something.
Thank you for commenting.
I hate to be a “hardass” or perceived as not having empathy for the homeless, but where will the money for the homeless come from ? We all know. Can we afford anymore feel good social bailouts for those who have less than what some see as some kind of right ? What will it take for our empathetic legislators to figure out that with every handout (hand up?) that is extended to those of lesser means, that more people that were barely making it by, are added to the list of needy ? They are not solving anything. They are just enlarging the pool of people that need assistance. Intentionally expanding socialist goals ?
Mr. Finnie, there is nothing wrong with being fiscally minded. Indeed, it is part and parcel of being a responsible adult. Our so-called legislators are not anything but people who “want to help” by spending other people’s money so that they look virtuous. And they can feel good about themselves. Sadly.
Yes, I would say that in the end they are turning us into a socialist state. When I moved back to New England in 2008, I saw a bumper sticker in West Lebanon NH that said, “Welcome to the Socialist Republic of Vermont”. I laughed because I didn’t know better. Now, I wish I had paid better attention.
The marching orders are already well underway: “Town of Brunswick (Maine) celebrates new apartments for unhoused asylum seekers. For years, the former naval air station base in Brunswick has been undergoing renovations. Businesses have slowly moved in, and housing developments are continuing to pop up on once-barren streets. That includes new apartments that, for the next couple of years, will be serving asylum seekers. On Monday, dozens of people gathered at Brunswick Landing to celebrate 60 new apartment units going up in five buildings. Twenty-four of them are already complete. These units are designed to house asylum seekers, as they wait to receive work permits. That process can often take a while, since asylum seekers can’t even file for a permit until at least six months after filing their initial asylum applications. This program is happening through the Maine State Housing Authority. MaineHousing will essentially pay the rent for these asylum seekers for up to two years. After that, they will be converted to a mix of market-rate and affordable housing, unless the state says the program needs to be extended.”
As Bernie says, “let me be clear,” there is more power behind taking facts of what is all ready going on, when it started, and who is behind it all. Starts at the tippy-top and trickles down the backs of all taxpayers. There is no original conceptionalizing here in Vermont…it is the marching orders of the most wicked, corrupt, treasonous group of malcontents across the entire country and the globe.
As far as Ben Shapiro, I caution to be careful who you follow…discernment is key and vital. We are in a war.
Well, I would still love Mr. Shapiro’s intellect and ability to debate. Regardless. He’s not perfect, no one is, but I can admire those qualities without purchasing the entire package. If you know what I mean.
Interesting story about Brunswick. That is where my father’s family is from. Right about now, my grandparents are likely rolling in their graves, as is my father for sure. Not because of any racist crap but because of the complete unfairness and financial dump on the middle class who bears this burden as do all middle-class people in this country.
And yes, we are in a cold war which will likely become quite warm this year. I always pray for discernment along with grace, compassion and to check my temper which is apt to go off without notice. Thank you Ms. Casey for your wise words.
Shapiro has a platform and money – much like other popular conservative pundits who have large followings and perceived powers of gab. After years of this theater of the absurd and war against humanity, I find many of them to be controlled opposition. They are making serious coin from other’s despair. It is in their best interest to keep stirring the pot rather than offer viable solutions to defeat the enemy. It simply comes down to the collective and unifying the collective against the enemy. With each exposure coming out, we are getting closer to unification of the People – good v. evil – finding the moral compass to protect all children and reclaim our liberty is the final battle we are in right now.
Where does it end? You will own nothing and be happy? That is the goal of the global elites.
Yes, if you read Ms. Christine Stone, she has all the “receipts” as people like to say these days. I tended not to listen up until recently, but I cannot refute her sources, or her logic and I am not completely “on board” with the concept that we are in serious trouble with global organizations. Thank you for commenting Ms. Cathy.
Oops, that was supposed to say I AM completely “on board”..
The Left has repeatedly used the “human right” ploy as a cudgel to ram their sh*t sandwiches down people’s throats.
The truth is, the majority of the Left care less about actual humans than they do about actual votes, which requires humans (and they’re working on that too).
But they never think thru the ramifications. If housing is indeed a human right, then as a human, can I demand housing in a particular area? How bout a particular size? And I will also require the heating and cooling of said house; you can’t honestly expect me to live in this 4 bedroom lakeside house without AC, do you, you monster?
Obviously, housing is NOT a human right.
And to your question, you are, obviously, 1,000% correct. If a state’s citizens are footing the tab, it should be FOR state citizens. Try leaving a bag of nuts on your patio table for the squirrels in your yard; you’ll be shocked when ALL the neighborhood squirrels start showing up!! OK, now what??
To “Riptide”: I haven’t read the case law to determine how they arrived at the constitutionality as of yet, but plan to because this is a non sequitur concept for me. Obviously, I am not a scholar nor an intellectual, but I would like a working understanding of how they arrived at this decision. I really don’t like not being able to converse/disagree/argue with someone because of lack of facts and because I don’t fully comprehend nor have practiced the art of debate. But when you “know” something in your soul or heart you’d like to be able to speak to that. I will stand on my opinion that when you give things to people for “free” they neither respect it, nor respect you (usually) and in the end, you take away their dignity. In fact, I would say and have said, you enslave them by giving them “free stuff”. It’s a basic tenet of Judeo-Christian culture. Thank you so much “Riptide” for your comment.
Pam, I would say that if housing was indeed a “constitutional right”, why is it just now, 235 years after said Constitution was ratified, did we discover this “right”??
The Left LOVES the idea of the Constitution when it suits them. The trouble is, they’ve never actually read it, always actually ignore it, and hope that you get caught in the judicial quagmire when you go to prove they’re wrong.
I have been denied housing due to flagrantly illegal policies on the part of H.U.D. and local agencies. I have a legitimate, medically established disability. Housing was available, just not for myself.
That is unconscionable Mr. Rosenthal. Is there a grievance process? I’m sure there must be, although it may be tortuous to enact and follow through. I hope you are able to work things out.
Best,
Pam Baker
It’s important to note that this state is one of the most reliant on federal aid. Don’t know if the following link will be allowed:
https://www.moneygeek.com/living/states-most-reliant-federal-government/
We live in a state hijacked by fiscally blind socialists who rely on fiat currency magic to implement the most ludicrous of policies. This will only end when our dollar collapses on the world stage. A collapse that is not that far away.
Just like the absurd ‘non-citizen’ voting rules in the wokest of vermont towns, the non-residency requirement is just another gateway to the federal aid gravy train that keeps this state alive and also makes some very clever business people in the state exceeding wealthy.
I’ve said it before, homelessness is BIG business and the local politicians don’t want to stop the magic cashflow they get from big money donors by changing our middle class destroying financial policies. Our politicians do not answer to their constituents. When everyone finally realizes that, then change can truly come.
I agree, Mr. Alex, that our state has been hijacked by “fiscally blind socialists” and that our country is very close to an economic collapse. Reminds me of a series of fiction books by James Howard Kunstler.
If you click on the links I provided, you will see that those cases occurred in NY and CT. And SCOTUS confirmed it under a right to travel. There were some dissenting Justices namely Warren, Black and Harlan. I would like to see these revisited. If they can overturn Roe v. Wade, anything is possible.
I most wholeheartedly agree that our politicians do not not “answer to their constituents”. My district Representative has come right out and said so, quoting Burke as a reason to do so. Paraphrasing, he basically says he knows better than we do and will decide. Not once but twice. Once on FPF and again this past Monday at the aforementioned coffee. Heinous. I plan to remind my neighbors this year of his actions and deeds. Hopefully we will get him ousted. Thank you for the comment.
Best,
Pam Baker
The Long Emergency is not a fiction book. As you see, we are in it right now. JHK and others like him (Bill Cooper) were voices in the wilderness. Some listened while others continued to play with their gadgets, embrace the bread and circus modernity, and became comfortably numb and dumb. Know your enemy because they certainly know you better than you know yourself in some cases.
Thank you, Ms. Casey. I absolutely agree with you about his books. I read them shortly after they came out. He doesn’t live that far from me, and I was able to meet him. Very interesting gentleman.
Another great source of writing which, may end up being prophetic fiction, is the Blue Dawn series by Blaine L. Pardoe. Yeah, it’s a lot closer to the truth and in many ways could look like the prequels to Mr. Kunstler’s fiction books.
I so appreciate your comments and engagement. It does make one feel less out there “flapping in the wind”.
Best,
Pam
Just for clarity, Mr. Kunstler has 18 books of fiction and 6 nonfiction, according to his website. I have read the Long Emergency, amongst many others and of course, you are correct it is not a work of fiction. In my comment to Mr. Alex, I was referring to the four-book fiction series, the first one titled “World Made by Hand”. I should have been more precise, my apologies to you both.
Best,
Pam Baker
All you need to know. You can find the documentary on Rumble. Free PDF for download.
https://thegreattaking.com/read-online-or-download
Thank you NYOB, I look forward to reading it. Thank you so much for sharing.
Best,
Pam Baker
So NYOB, I read the prologue and wow. I am so ignorant of finance and banking, past whatever a plain checking and savings account is. I have minimal understanding of investments… so this is waaaay out of my league, but very intriguing. Will be diving into the actual book today. Thank you again for sharing.
Best,
Pam Baker
“Supposedly, it is unconstitutional to require proof of residency…”
I don’t think so –