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Rep. Elizabeth Burrows urges universal-design study to address severe housing accessibility gap
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Summary
Rep. Elizabeth Burrows, a state representative for Windsor‑1, told the working group she supports forming a study committee on universal design to set clear definitions and include people with lived experience.
Rep. Elizabeth Burrows, a state representative who said she represents Windsor‑1, told the working group she supports forming a study committee on universal design to develop clear, implementable definitions and to ensure people with lived experience are part of decision-making.
Burrows said the study committee is needed because available programs and grants lack consistent definitions of “accessibility” and “universal design,” which has hindered uptake. “When I ... asked Sean Gilpin what the uptake was for that program, he said 0 because we had not defined what we meant by that,” Burrows said, referring to a state grant program discussed in the meeting materials.
Burrows also described accessibility shortfalls in the current housing stock and among people experiencing homelessness. “Our current housing stock for accessibility is 0.04% of our residential housing stock available is accessible,” she said, and she added that, based on the data she discussed, “our homeless population is more than 80% [that] has a physical disability.” She framed those statistics as part of a broader argument for a short, focused study committee to produce concrete program definitions and recommendations.
Burrows also raised concerns about relying on the Vermont Center for Independent Living (VCIL) as a source of people with lived experience. She told the panel she had found VCIL’s offices empty and was concerned about relying on that organization as a stakeholder. Another committee member responded with a VCIL social-media post dated April 2 saying the organization had put its building on the market and expected to relocate in Montpelier, and that it intended to continue programs and services. That member said, “We decided months ago to sell the building and are reposting the listing. We'll be renting in another location in Montpelier ... and we'll continue to offer the same programs and services.”
Burrows described the study committee’s purposes as twofold: to define terms so state grant programs (including a VHIP grant referenced in the discussion) can operate with clear eligibility and to educate and include tangential stakeholders—developers, architects and legislators—so they understand the costs and benefits of universal design. She said one immediate goal would be to codify practices already required by VHFA and by HUD-funded projects so those standards survive any changes at the federal level.
Several participants discussed membership and timelines for the study group. Burrows said she envisioned a brief series of meetings—“just 3 or 4 meetings and then ... have it go into effect”—and named several people she thought should be included. The committee agreed it was important to include representatives with lived experience and architects. Staff noted an email reaffirmation from Chad (Chad Simmons) on membership, and the group planned to continue the conversation after the recess.
