General & Housing Committee debates housing priorities, asks for spreadsheet to accompany budget letter
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Summary
The committee reviewed a draft letter to Appropriations prioritizing housing requests — including a $12,000,000 one-time ask for BHCB and VHIP at $4,000,000 base — discussed rental arrears and landlord liaisons, and agreed to prepare a spreadsheet and follow up on FHIP/BHIP eligibility questions for out-of-state owners.
The General & Housing Committee on Feb. 18 considered a draft letter to the Appropriations Committee setting the committee’s budget priorities, with members focusing much of the discussion on housing programs, how to present requests and several clarifying follow-ups.
The chair described a tiered approach in the draft letter. Under the suggested priorities, the committee listed a $12,000,000 one-time above-base request for BHCB and a $4,000,000 base amount for VHIP. “Tier 1 is VACB funding is 12,000,000 1 time above base,” the chair said, and added a paragraph explaining why each program was important.
Members debated how to structure the letter. Elizabeth asked that the cover language explicitly state non-housing items listed lower in the document are not lower priority, and several members recommended reorganizing the letter into a clear housing and non-housing section rather than numbered tiers. One member argued for elevating rental arrears assistance, which appears later in the draft and currently shows no additional funding, and another urged including a modest landlord-liaison funding request to expand access.
Elizabeth also raised a policy question about BHIP/FHIP program eligibility, asking whether out-of-state property owners have been able to access program funding and whether Vermont property owners should be prioritized if the program is oversubscribed. Staff (speaker identified as Trevor) and a staff member (Ted) said program guidance appears to allow out-of-state owners to receive funding provided they identify a local property manager; the committee agreed to ask Sean Gilpin, who previously testified, for clarification.
Committee members agreed to create and circulate a spreadsheet — using a prior-year template provided by Rep. Pango — to present funding requests more clearly to Appropriations. The chair said she will circulate revised drafts and the committee will continue refining numbers through Friday.
Next steps: committee staff will prepare a spreadsheet and an updated draft of the letter, and members will follow up with Sean Gilpin for BHIP/BHIP eligibility details. The committee set its next convening time and adjourned.
