The State of Vermont will extend for two weeks its free hotel-motel housing of the homeless.
The deadline was set to expire today. But a Vermont Legal Aid suit claiming housing program beneficiaries hadn’t had enough time to find alternative housing resulted in the two-week extension.
“I am pleased that this morning the parties in Gray-Rand v. Vermont Agency of Human Services agreed to a Stipulated Temporary Order 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,” Brown said in a June 30 press statement. “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.”
As for the lawsuit filed by Vermont Legal Aid, “the Agency of Human Services and Department of Children and Families will be responding to the underlying complaint in the coming weeks.”
I am pleased that this morning the parties in Gray-Rand v. Vermont Agency of Human Services agreed to a Stipulated Temporary Order 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, Brown said.
The State has spent more than $70 million housing up to 300 homeless families/individuals per night during the pandemic. The program was deemed necessary because existing shelters could not meet the need due to social distancing requirements. The State’s transitional program is prepared to spend up to $8000 per person in rental assistance, phones, and other other services.
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 local district offices located throughout the state.