Housing

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.