Vermont nonprofits tell Commerce & Economic Development committee federal actions are increasing demand and risk to services

Members of Vermont’s nonprofit sector told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce and Economic Development on April 22 that federal policies and enforcement activity are producing immediate demand and operational strain for local service providers, and they urged the Legislature to adopt measures that stabilize nonprofit funding.

The hearing, convened by Chair Marcotte, featured presentations from Jill Martin Diaz, executive director of the Vermont Asylum Assistance Project; Renata Aylward, communications manager at Merck Forest and Farmland Center; Phoebe Zorani, executive director of the Pride Center of Vermont; Dan Barlow, executive director of the People’s Health and Wellness Clinic; and Emma Paradise of Common Good Vermont, who opened the hearing.

The most urgent theme was fear linked to federal immigration enforcement and policy shifts. “People are scared. My colleagues are scared. I’m scared,” said Jill Martin Diaz, who told the committee that some Vermonters are withdrawing from school and missing medical appointments out of fear of immigration…