United Ways/Vermont 2-1-1 asks House Human Services for $20,000 in BAA to hire outreach manager

Lisonbee Lamagna, executive director of United Ways of Vermont and Vermont 2-1-1, asked the House Human Services committee to include $20,000 in the Budget Adjustment Act recommendation to the Appropriations Committee. Lamagna said the $20,000 would fund an outreach and communications manager starting April 1 and represents one quarter of an $80,000 annual salary the organization expects to roll into its next contract.

Lamagna described Vermont 2-1-1 as a statewide information-and-referral system designated by the state and housed at United Ways of Vermont. She said 2-1-1 receives an average of 52,000 contacts per year and handled 61,654 contacts in 2025; its database lists more than 1,100 agencies and 3,100 programs.

Committee members asked about operations and capacity. Lamagna said Vermont 2-1-1 operates a contact center with eight staff who cover shifts from 8 a.m. to midnight; an outside call center handles calls from midnight to 8 a.m. on nights and weekends. Staff are nationally certified and the database is reaccredited by InformUSA every five years; Lamagna said reaccreditation is underway with a target re-accreditation in April.

Lawmakers discussed 2-1-1's role in emergency housing coordination and in preparing for forthcoming changes to Medicaid eligibility. Lamagna said 2-1-1 is joining a coalition of providers to plan training and supports so callers can be guided through confusing notices and changing benefit rules.

What happens next: Lamagna asked the committee to include the $20,000 request in its BAA recommendation. The committee did not take a formal vote during this hearing; members indicated follow-up discussions with administration contracting staff would be needed for longer-term funding and contract changes.