Housing

This bill establishes the Vermont Homelessness Response Continuum to create a coordinated system of supports and services for households experiencing or at risk of homelessness. It replaces the current reliance on hotel and motel rooms for emergency housing with a diversified approach that includes shelters, shared housing arrangements, host homes, and rapid rehousing placements. The legislation requires households to actively participate in personalized housing plans and case management services to achieve permanent housing stability. It also creates new definitions for key terms like "alternative housing options" and "diversion" to guide how local communities and service providers deliver assistance. The bill aims to improve accountability through reporting requirements while giving local communities flexibility in administering emergency housing services.

This bill (H 772) updates Vermont's residential rental laws to protect tenants and clarify landlord obligations. It bans application fees for residential rentals, limits security deposits to two months' rent, and requires specific notice periods for evictions (14 days for nonpayment, 21 days for other breaches). The bill also creates a pilot program through the State Treasurer's office to allow tenants to report on-time rent payments to credit bureaus, helping build credit history. These changes directly affect all landlords and tenants in Vermont rental agreements, with additional technical assistance available via the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.

H.790 adjusts specific line items in Vermont's fiscal year 2026 budget, primarily modifying existing funding allocations rather than creating new programs. It increases renter rebate funding from $9.5 million to $11 million (a $1.5 million increase) and decreases homeowner rebate funding from $19 million to $17.5 million (a $1.5 million reduction). The bill also raises legislative counsel funding by $720,000 (from $4.88 million to $5.60 million) and makes minor adjustments to other state agency budgets. These changes directly affect renters and homeowners through rebate program funding levels, while state government operations are impacted through revised budget allocations.

H.91 establishes the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing (VHEARTH) Program to replace existing homelessness services. It directly affects Vermonters experiencing homelessness, including children, seniors, and Black residents who face disproportionate homelessness rates (5.6x higher than white residents). Key provisions include ending reliance on hotel/motel stays for shelter, expanding permanent emergency shelters, and requiring regional advisory councils with diverse representation to guide the program. The bill aims to eliminate unsheltered homelessness by 2027 and transition people to permanent housing, using funds previously allocated to the General Assistance Program (phased out by 2027). Note: The bill was vetoed by the Governor on June 11, 2025.

S.127 creates Vermont's Rental Housing Improvement Program to fund rental housing development and rehabilitation. It provides grants and forgivable loans to landlords, with funding limits of $70,000 per accessible unit or $50,000 per standard unit. Landlords must lease units to specific groups (e.g., people exiting homelessness, immigrants, individuals with disabilities) and adhere to HUD fair market rent limits for 5-10 years to qualify for loan forgiveness. The program also establishes a revolving fund for repaid loans and requires annual reporting on program outcomes.