Appropriations panel weighs shelter and housing requests, hears urgency from Chittenden County advocates

The House Appropriations Committee heard several housing and shelter funding requests and follow‑up questions March 18, with members flagging both emergency repairs and longer‑term housing supports for further review.

A presenter described an emergency shelter effort in Brattleboro that has operated at a church and said the site received a waiver to exceed an early occupancy limit but needs sprinkler and fire‑safety work for longer‑term expansion. "We used to take 30 to 40 people a night," the presenter said when describing past shelter capacity, and committee members asked about a possible memorandum of understanding to ensure the site remains a shelter if funds are provided for improvements.

Members also discussed a request for a disabilities housing coordinator — a proposed position to coordinate disability housing across agencies and partners — and noted related VHCB (Vermont Housing & Conservation Board) and S328 items that may already set aside funds (staff flagged a $3,000,000 item tied to S328 in committee notes).

On day shelter funding, a committee member described the CBOEO (community resource center) day shelter in Chittenden County and cited letters from municipal partners and health providers explaining the center supports "an average of 131 people per day" with services such as wound care, referrals and restrooms. The member said a $650,000 request addressed an ongoing shortfall and urged the committee to consider its regional importance when assigning priority votes.

Committee members instructed staff to check whether large VHCB requests contained amounts already in the governor’s recommended budget and to confirm whether voucher or disability housing funding was covered elsewhere so the committee can avoid duplication when finalizing FY27 appropriations.