Vermont service providers ask legislature to restore flexible homelessness, recovery and legal-aid funding

Jenna O'Farrell, executive director of Northeast Kingdom Community Action, told the House Human Services committee on Jan. 8 that community partners are seeking restoration of flexible Housing Opportunity Program (HOP) funds and warned of immediate consequences if the budget adjustment act does not provide $1,322,141 for short-term financial assistance.

Those flexible funds pay for short-term rental assistance, security deposits, utility deposits, transportation and other one-time costs that providers say prevent homelessness. "These funds have preserved housing, created pathways to stability, kept families together during periods of extreme stress," O'Farrell said, urging restoration to FY25 funding levels.

The committee heard similar appeals from the statewide Housing and Homelessness Alliance and individual providers. Chad Simmons, the newly appointed executive director of the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, said HHAV supports a $1.3 million request for flexible HOP funding to fill a gap left after partial supplemental awards. Michael Redmond, senior advisor and former executive director of the Upper Valley Haven, gave examples of how relatively small flexible grants have…