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Community action agencies ask legislature for $15.8 million to expand homelessness prevention
Summary
Representatives of Vermont Community Action Partnership and local community action agencies urged the Appropriations Committee to fund a $15.8 million statewide homelessness-prevention request in the FY26 budget, including rapid rehousing vouchers and case-management positions.
Paul Dragon, executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, told the House Appropriations Committee that the Vermont Community Action Partnership is seeking $15,800,000 in FY26 HOPWA grant funding to support statewide homelessness prevention services.
The request, Dragon said, would include $2.4 million for a statewide family voucher rapid‑rehousing program and about $1.2 million for case‑management positions to connect people to services. "Homelessness prevention stops homelessness before it starts," Dragon said, arguing prevention reduces the need for costly emergency shelter and shortens episodes of homelessness.
Tom Donahue, identified in testimony as the CEO of Bridal Community Action and a member of the statewide partnership, repeated the $15.8 million request and described frontline needs. Donahue said part of his agency’s proposal is $1.35 million to support recruitment and retention of staff and $1 million for direct financial assistance such as short‑term rent arrears, security deposits and moving costs that can keep people housed.
Nut graf: The testimony consolidated similar funding requests from multiple community action agencies and a statewide housing coalition, asking the legislature to prioritize prevention and rapid rehousing in FY26 to reduce emergency shelter use and related public costs.
Committee members did not ask questions during the hearing; commenters were invited to submit written testimony. The speakers noted their requests are included in a list compiled by the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont and urged the committees to adopt those recommendations in the FY26 budget.
Ending: Agencies said written testimony will be filed for the record and asked the legislature to consider the prevention investments as more cost‑effective than expanded emergency responses.
