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And it’s still costing $33 Million in FY 2024-2025
By Paul Bean
Vermont’s General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing Program, commonly known as the “hotel/motel program,” remains operational with no termination date, despite confusion among some residents, and cost Vermont taxpayers $33 million dollars last year.
The program, which provides temporary housing for those without shelter options, has undergone changes under Act 27 of 2025, effective July 1, 2025.
“Yes, Vermont’s General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing Program, often referred to as the ‘hotel/motel program,’ is still operating and has not ended,” wrote Chris Winters, the Commissioner of the Department of Children and Families. “Some confusion may stem from the fact that many individuals and households have already used their full 80-day limit (or, in some cases, more) of emergency housing assistance under the program’s current rules.”
Under the revised structure in last session’s Act 27, the program operates with a rolling 80-day limit on emergency housing per household within a 12-month period, with no annual reset.
Winter emergency housing days (Dec. 1–Mar. 31) are excluded from this limit. Hotel stays are not guaranteed and are only utilized when shelter beds are unavailable. Additionally, as of July 1, 2025, applicants are no longer required to deplete all personal resources to qualify.
Eligibility requires participants to contribute 30% of their monthly gross income, actively search for permanent housing, accept available shelter placements, and engage in monthly housing-related activities. Individuals can apply by phone or in person at district offices, where staff assist with the application process. Clients can also reapply 10 days before their current authorization expires to maintain coverage.
The number of individuals or households in hotels varies daily based on eligibility and availability. “For up-to-date figures on how many people are currently in emergency housing, we encourage you to visit the Department for Children and Families’ website for weekly public data updates: https://dcf.vermont.gov/Addressing-and-Preventing-Unsheltered-Homelessness,” officials advised. As one can see, however, the site no longer functions.
The program’s costs for State Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024–June 2025) totaled $33,326,131 for hotel and motel accommodations, according to the DCF.
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Categories: Housing, State Government
Vermont legislators and leadership just don’t get it. Just think how many homes $33 million could have been built permanent housing. Having been in the hotel business, this was gravy for us. Nobody at the state level cared about the cost we charged. Keep wasting money Vermont.
Milton Freedman talked about the extremely increased inefficiencies of people spending other people’s money on other people……
The link to the DCF website noted does not work.
The number of individuals or households in hotels varies daily based on eligibility and availability. “For up-to-date figures on how many people are currently in emergency housing, we encourage you to visit the Department for Children and Families’ website for weekly public data updates: https://dcf.vermont.gov/Addressing-and-Preventing-Unsheltered-Homelessness,” officials advised. As one can see, however, the site no longer functions.
You can’t tell me that it’s impossible to house low income people, build more housing, or increase the amount of housing vouchers for $33 million a year. Over time over a hundred million spent on motels! They could have given vouchers where people pay 30% of income towards rent in an apartment, like they have to pay in the motel system and cost less than $80 a day the motels charge. How much does it cost to build say, 5 regional apartment buildings with 40 apts each?