ACLU Statement on Scott Administration's New Rules for Homelessness Response

MONTPELIER, VT – The Scott administration yesterday released new rules for the state’s emergency shelter system that cut shelter capacity and make it harder for people to access benefits. The rules were published on the same day they were required to be implemented, with minimal opportunity for public review or input, and will result in more people being unhoused across Vermont.

Among other provisions, the new rules require people currently in the program to exit their emergency shelters and reapply – with no certainty about when or if they will be able to access services in the future. Additionally, the Scott administration ordered the state helpline 211, to stop providing support to individuals seeking emergency shelter during the evenings and weekends – times when support may be urgently needed.

The following statement can be attributed to ACLU Vermont Policy Advocate Alex Karambelas: “The Scott administration's new rules will perpetuate and exacerbate the problems that plague our current emergency shelter system: too few beds, too many barriers to accessing support, and no path to permanent housing. Vermont's homelessness response package was not meant to make our homelessness crisis even worse, but that’s exactly what these rules will do.

“Currently, the continuum designed to respond to homelessness instead makes severe cuts to emergency shelters, adds more obstacles to eligibility and access, and provides no meaningful support to people in need. This will result in hundreds of more people being unsheltered with nowhere to go.
“The rules fail to incorporate the wisdom of service providers and people with lived experience, are contrary to what was authorized in law, and have been rolled out in a sea of administrative chaos - which appears to be the point.

“At a time when our communities are calling on the state to step up and help address the real challenges they are facing, the Scott administration once again has offered no solutions and is actively making the situation worse.”