Lawmakers hear Act 163 update as recovery residences expand; debate continues over landlord-tenant exemption

At a House Oversight and Accountability Committee meeting, state health officials, recovery housing operators and lawmakers reviewed progress implementing Act 163 and discussed whether recovery residences should remain exempt from landlord-tenant rules or seek a healthcare licensure route.

Representative Eric McGuire, who said he was onboarded this spring with Brock Community Action as shelter director at Philo of Rutland, told the committee Brock is building an adult shelter in Rutland and planning a temporary supportive family unit if the Rutland Housing Trust obtains site control of the former Loretto nursing home. "The hope is that we have the adult shelter operational late fall," McGuire said, adding contractor Miller and Breen expect to begin work in June.

The update then turned to certified recovery residences created under Act 163. Jeff (last name not provided), a recovery housing stakeholder who discussed statewide coordination through Recovery Partners of Vermont, told the committee that funding tied to the FY25 budget has helped expand capacity. "Through Recovery Partners of Vermont, we've added 40…