HUD announced last week that it will provide $153,036 to Vermont State Housing Authority to supply permanent housing and case management for more than 25 homeless veterans in Vermont. The assistance will be provided through HUD’s Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing Program (HUD-VASH), a program administered by HUD, VA, and local housing agencies to provide permanent housing with case management and other supportive serv
Homelessness
"Solidarity Sleep Out" for homeless youth
A group of business and community leaders will spend the night of March 29th sleeping outdoors, on the grounds of the Burlington Unitarian Church. Run by Spectrum Youth and Family Services, the sleep out is intended to help raise awareness of youth homelessness and increase funds to ensure that homeless youth have a safe, stable place to stay.
Learning about a Vermont family's road into and out of homelessness
According to WCAX's story this week about a local family of four, the road out of homelessness is particularly long and challenging when juggling the needs of children.
The family spent six months in a shelter specially designed for families, which required balancing the demands of living with ten other families. The family's oldest daughter faced the additional complexities of attending elementary school while living in a shelter.
Angus Chaney joins AHS Secretary's office
Angus Chaney is joining the office of Agency of Human Services Secretary Doug Racine to focus on an integrated approach to housing and homelessness. In his new role, Angus will focus on the development and implementation of a statewide agenda to address the issues of homelessness, the development of housing retention programs and an integrated approach to the state’s housing needs.
Unemployment is most common cause of homelessness
An annual survey of municipal officials in 29 large U.S. cities found unemployment at the top of the list of homelessness causes, according to a recent report from the The U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Task Force on Hunger and Homelessness. Respondents were asked to provide information on emergency food assistance and homeless services provided between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011.
Strategies to combat homelessness in Vermont
Citing three deaths of people who were homeless this winter, Governor Peter Shumlin re-instituted the Vermont Interagency Council on Homelessness (ICH) at a press conference yesterday. Angus Chaney, Agency of Human Services (AHS) Director of Housing, has been named chair and will work with the 22-member Council to:
Homelessness in the news
Today’s Burlington Free Press had two articles regarding homelessness in Vermont:
The first discussed yesterday’s vigil in Montpelier where shelter and homeless service providers described the persistent needs among Vermont families and individuals facing homelessness. Highlighting the success of programs that seek to prevent homelessness, officials at the vigil called on Vermont lawmakers to recognize these successes by focusing future efforts in this area. Read more.
Federal funding continued for local homeless programs
HUD announced this week the renewals of Vermont's homeless assistance grants. A total of $3.6 million will be provided for 22 projects statewide during FY2012.
Read the full list of Vermont awards.
Read HUD's press release.
COTS candle light vigil tonight
Please join the Committee for Temporary Shelter (COTS) in a candle light vigil tonight at 5:30. The vigil will be held on the steps of Burlington City Hall.