Vermont lawmakers hear Fair Housing testimonies as state agency reports rise in complaints

The House General & Housing Committee on May 20, 2025 heard testimony for Fair Housing Awareness Day as the Vermont Human Rights Commission and community advocates warned of growing housing discrimination complaints and urged state action.

The Human Rights Commission reported a marked rise in fair housing inquiries and said it has “almost doubled” the number of new fair housing complaints it accepted this year while operating with a staff of seven and limited funding.

The increase matters because the commission investigates alleged housing discrimination, decides whether there are reasonable grounds to proceed and — when appropriate — may bring enforcement actions in superior court. Fig Hartman, executive director and general counsel of the Vermont Human Rights Commission, told the committee the office follows federal guidance when resolving cases and that state law provides additional protections not found in federal statutes.

Hartman said the commission’s intake and investigative process is resource intensive. “We do not…