An act relating to the Emergency Temporary Shelter Program

This bill establishes an Emergency Temporary Shelter Program within Vermont's Department for Children and Families to provide interim housing for households experiencing homelessness, prioritizing community-based shelter options over hotel rooms. The program creates an advisory committee that includes individuals with lived experience of homelessness to guide implementation, ensuring diverse representation across race, disability, and other demographics. Key provisions require immediate access to shelter without housing readiness requirements, limit unnecessary relocations between shelter sites, and establish accountability measures for hotel and motel operators receiving state funding. The bill also mandates that shelter services incorporate Housing First principles and trauma-informed practices while increasing accessibility for individuals with disabilities.