On June 21, 2023

Lawmakers are set to extend the motel program, but many will be left out

 

By Lola Duffort/VTDigger

Sitting in the drizzling rain outside of Montpelier’s Kellogg-Hubbard Library on Friday afternoon, Jeffrey Dorsey rolled back the black sock on his left ankle. 

“I just want to show you that so you believe me. Because I feel like some people don’t,” he told a reporter as he revealed a fist-sized, red-and-purple lump on the joint, and, in one crevice of his shin, a small abscess. “They don’t know the extent of it.”

The 57-year-old had lived in Barre’s Budget Inn for months as part of a state program that sheltered people experiencing homelessness in motels and hotels. But on June 1, he was shown the door, and told he no longer qualified for a voucher because of the state’s newly narrowed eligibility criteria.

The news had come as a surprise to Dorsey, because he’d heard that disabled people would continue to be helped. Between his diabetes (an infection this spring landed him in hospital for 17 days) and the continued effects of a hit-and-run in 2019 which required a succession of surgeries (one just seven months ago), he’d assumed he qualified. He didn’t. 

Dorsey stayed with his girlfriend for a couple days, but he couldn’t stay long-term. And since then, 

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Vermont’s adult loon population is at an all-time high, but fewer chicks are surviving

July 2, 2025
By Izzy Wagner/VTDigger Vermont’s adult loon population is at an all-time high, but scientists have noticed a recent decrease in the number of chicks surviving. In 2024, Vermont saw a record-breaking 123 nesting pairs, 11 of which landed at first-time nesting sites. Out of the 125 loon chicks that hatched in 2024, 65% survived through the…

Vermont State University graduates 414 nurses, boosting local health care workforce

July 2, 2025
Vermont State University (VTSU) has graduated 414 new nurses this year, marking a significant step forward in addressing the state’s ongoing health care workforce shortage. With approximately 92% of these graduates testing for licensure in Vermont and strong NCLEX pass rates, the university continues to deliver on its promise to educate and prepare nurses who…

VT Agency of Education announces summer food service program

July 2, 2025
The Agency of Education announced the availability of summer meal sites providing meals to all children, 18 and under, through the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). This program ensures that children across the state have access to nutritious meals throughout the summer. Families are encouraged to access these meals to help support children’s growth, health,…

Sanders restores $17m for Vt schools canceled by Trump

July 2, 2025
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont), ranking member of the Senate health, education, labor, and pensions (HELP) committee, June 27 announced that the U.S. Dept. of Education reversed its decision to cancel nearly $17 million in federal K-12 Covid-19 funding for Vermont school districts and some $2.5 billion for schools across the country. The administration’s announcement follows…