Resident tells aldermen Rutland County Mental Health failed to respond during eviction and suicide crisis

At the public‑comment portion of the meeting, resident Tiffany Clark told the Board of Aldermen she has experienced multiple recent bereavements and ongoing housing instability and relief gaps in mental‑health and homeless‑prevention services. Clark said she had been in a motel program for three years, moved to a rooming house and was issued a no‑cause eviction after confronting her landlord about alleged drug purchases. She told aldermen she filed an RFA and that her eviction notice runs to Sept. 1; Clark said she tried to work with Rutland County Mental Health and homeless‑prevention staff but that follow-up had not occurred. “I called there. I called the other day at 07:57 in the morning crisis. I told them I had my sleeping pills in my hand, and I was suicidal. They did not even call me back,” Clark said at the microphone, adding that she had to have a family member drive three hours to be with her. Clark said she is pursuing an RFA against an ex‑boyfriend and that she has reported landlords for verbal abuse. She identified the landlords she named in testimony as Crystal Alexander and Charles Burns and said she fears she will have to use motel emergency days again. Aldermen expressed condolences for her bereavements and asked staff to note her concerns. No formal board action was taken during public comment, although aldermen frequently use the public‑comment record to refer constituent matters to staff for follow‑up with the appropriate department or outside agency. Clark’s remarks spotlighted gaps she perceives in the local safety‑net response and the limits of available short‑term housing options; aldermen said they would refer residents in crisis to available municipal resources and urged Clark to document the contacts so staff can follow up.