End Homelessness Vermont warns H.594 as drafted would leave vulnerable people exposed

Brenda Siegel, executive director of End Homelessness Vermont, told the House Human Services Committee on Friday she cannot support H.594 as drafted or the governor’s related proposal, arguing both would exclude too many people and create additional harm to people with disabilities and serious medical needs. “Reducing eligibility will likely lead to more loss of life and more catastrophic outcomes,” Siegel said.

Siegel framed her opposition with both data and client stories. She described a 200‑person, four‑phase study her organization conducted: 103 volunteers were interviewed in phase two, most of them hotel residents, and the sample matched Agency of Human Services data that about 4% of participants had last been housed out of state. From Sept. 2024 to Sept. 2025, Siegel said, 6.1 percent — 14 of End Homelessness Vermont’s highest‑needs clients — died, most outdoors; since October the agency documented three additional deaths. She told the committee about clients who were injured, assaulted or…