Administration proposes short-term municipal grants as compromise for ending winter hotel-motel GA program March 31

Sarah Clark, secretary of administration, told members of the House–Senate conference committee on H.141 on Feb. 28 that the administration proposes to end the cold‑weather portion of the state’s General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing hotel–motel program on March 31 and to offer roughly $2.1 million in grants to municipalities to help households as they exit state‑run hotel placements.

The compromise would replace a previously considered $1.8 million allocation to extend hotel–motel stays through June 30. Under the administration’s proposal, funds would be distributed to municipalities based on hotel‑room usage by Agency of Human Services (AHS) district office caseloads (AHS uses 12 district offices), and grants would include a $50,000 minimum to ensure small communities receive usable amounts. Clark said the grants could be used at local discretion — for continuing hotel payments, partnering with nonprofits to expand shelter capacity, or relocation assistance — but would not be integrated into the state GA program once municipal funds were used.

Why it matters: The committee heard from municipal leaders and the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) that local governments are already stretched and that short notice would make accepting and administering state funds impractical. Samantha Sheehan, VLCT municipal policy and advocacy specialist, told the committee that municipalities lack the existing authorities, insurance coverage and staff capacity to take on responsibility for hotel or shelter administration on short notice and that the delivery of emergency shelter is…