On September 25, 2014

New Department for Children and Families chief will revisit housing vouchers for homeless

RANDOLPH–The new Department for Children and Families commissioner Ken Schatz says he wants to scrutinize, and possibly change, the state’s practice of temporarily housing homeless people in motels. Gov. Peter Shumlin defended the same program an hour later.

Schatz told housing advocates at the annual meeting of the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition in Randolph Tuesday, Sept. 9, that he has heard nothing good about the motel program. Shumlin appointed Schatz as commissioner on Sept. 8 after former commissioner Dave Yacovone resigned to take another job.

“It is clearly not a good program, as far as I can tell, to be putting people in motels,” said Schatz.

The governor said the administration has taken a beating from the legislature over the motel vouchers and has defended the program. Shumlin recalled when two Vermonters froze to death several months after he became governor in 2011.

“When you’re in crisis and you don’t have the permanent housing, you’ve got two choices: freeze in the streets or open up the motel rooms. I vote open up the motel rooms,” Shumlin said.

Despite their different opinions, Schatz and Shumlin agreed that people need both short-term places to stay as well as more access to permanent housing.

DCF’s $11 million General Assistance program provides a variety of emergency services, including vouchers for up to 84 days in local motels, depending on the circumstances, to homeless Vermonters. The state from January to June this year paid for 14,752 nights in motels at an average of $60 per night.

Schatz said reducing homelessness will be a focus under his leadership. He said he will consider the overall goal of the General Assistance program and how it should ideally function. Emergency housing is important, he said, but the state needs a better program.

By Laura Krantz, VTDigger.org

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

The anticipated ‘Dec. 1 letter’ from the Vermont tax dept. projects 5.9% property tax increase

December 4, 2024
By Ethan Weinstein/VTDigger and Polly Mikula Vermonters can expect a 5.9% average increase in education property taxes next year absent major changes, according to the annual forecast from Craig Bolio, Vermont’s tax commissioner. The news arrived Monday, Dec. 2, in the form of the “Dec. 1 letter,” an annual projection required by law that represents the…

Vermont receives $5.3 million in federal grants to expand internet access across the state

November 27, 2024
By Klara Bauters / VTDigger Vermont has been awarded $5.3 million from the federal government to implement its Digital Equity Plan — which outlines how the state will provide individuals and communities with the tools and skills necessary to benefit from meaningful access to affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service. “Internet and broadband. It’s no longer…

Experts fear Trump environmental policies could undermine Vt’s efforts

November 27, 2024
By Emma Cotton/VTDigger As Donald Trump prepares to return to the presidency, experts worry that his climate and environmental policy goals could destabilize ongoing work in Vermont. The president-elect campaigned on tossing out policies related to climate change and loosening or abandoning environmental regulations. As a small state, Vermont leans on federal funding and regulatory frameworks…

VTSU sees 20% enrollment growth in plumbing, electrical apprenticeship programs

November 27, 2024
As the state kicked off Apprenticeship Week last week, Vermont State University (VTSU) announced that its plumbing and electrical registered apprenticeship programs have grown over 20% in two years. Enrollment for the current academic year is at a record high of over 870 apprentices after multiple years of sustained growth. “Vermont State University is dedicated…