Vermont pays for motel rooms when shelters are full. The Scott administration says we need a better plan.

Gov. Phil Scott's administration is proposing a dramatic overhaul of how the state handles emergency housing.

For years, Vermont has paid to put people up in motel rooms when there's no other place they can stay. On cold winter nights, or when shelters are full, state-funded motel vouchers have been a crucial but costly piece of Vermont's safety net.

About 2,500 households used the motel voucher program last year, compared to about 2,700 households that used shelters and other community projects.

"A lot of people don’t realize how much we are relying on motels in this state to meet our emergency housing need," said Sarah Phillips, director of the Department for Children and Families's Office of Economic Opportunity.

How would temporary housing change?

The Scott administration is proposing to do away with the current program and instead rely on community organizations to administer all emergency housing, supported by about $6.2 million in state grants.

People would no longer be able to get a motel voucher directly from the state Department for Children and Families or through the 211 hotline.

Community organizations could still pay for motel rooms when necessary. Over time, state officials believe the grants and local planning will allow Vermont to largely "transition away from motels."

"It’s a big shift," Phillips said in a telephone interview after presenting the proposal to lawmakers Thursday.

Phillips said that in partnership with state government, local organizations could provide services to people in need and invest in strategies to prevent and reduce homelessness.

What's being said about the proposed change?

Michael Redmond, executive director of Upper Valley Haven in White River Junction, is interested in the proposal but waiting for more details. Upper Valley Haven provides a variety of services including emergency shelters.

Redmond wants to know whether state eligibility rules will remain intact, and who will be responsible for budget overages during a particularly cold winter or another situation where a large number of people need emergency housing.

Phillips said the state plan would include a contingency fund to address urgent needs.

Lawmakers have begun to consider the emergency housing restructure as part of the governor's proposed budget. The state budget is typically finalized in May.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.

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