End Homelessness Vermont Secures First-Ever State Appropriation
The FY2027 budget has been signed into law. For the first time in our history, End Homelessness Vermont has been awarded a state appropriation. This is a milestone years in the making. We extend deep gratitude to the entire Vermont General Assembly and Governor Scott for this opportunity.
“This is a moment of profound recognition, not just for our organization, but for the people we serve. Every single person on our team has lived experience of either homelessness or housing insecurity, and living with a disability. This will go a long way to support our continued critical work. I am so grateful to our incredible team, who show up every day with heart, expertise, and a deep commitment to the people we serve,” said Brenda Siegel, Executive Director of End Homelessness Vermont.
The FY2027 budget allocates $200,000 from the General Fund for EHVT to “continue providing statewide housing navigation, case management, service coordination, technical assistance, appeals, and permanent housing support for individuals living with complex needs and disabilities who are experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.” This is one third of our case management goal for FY2027 and it is allocated for us to do exactly what we do every day.
For years, End Homelessness Vermont has done this work with an extremely limited budget, often on the outside of the systems we were fighting to change. Our team, every one of them with lived experience, has stayed firmly dedicated to the work on the ground, lifting up the voices of people most impacted and making sure that Vermonters living with disabilities and complex needs have access to the support they deserve. The Legislature saw that. In the findings and intent language of this budget, they recognized that End Homelessness Vermont has provided “essential services to unhoused Vermonters including service navigation and coordination from crisis through housing stability, technical assistance, and concrete supports.” For a peer-led team that has worked this hard for this long, that recognition means everything.
End Homelessness Vermont started as a hotline, born out of necessity, to make sure people weren’t left outside when they had nowhere to go. Today we have two departments, the Office of Housing Advocate and the Office of Research and Advocacy. We answer thousands of calls a year. We walk alongside people from the moment of crisis through permanent housing. And we don’t give up on anyone.
We are so grateful to the members of the Vermont Legislature who made this happen. Thank you to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, with special thanks to House Appropriations Chair Rep. Robin Scheu, Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Rep. Tiff Bluemle, and Sen. Ginny Lyons. And thank you to the House Human Services Committee, especially Chair Rep. Theresa Wood, Rep. Jubilee McGill, and Rep. Esme Cole, and to every member of that committee. Also to the dozens of community providers who showed up and advocated for this work.
This is a pivotal moment. This funding sustains the work, strengthens our team, and helps us show up every day for the people who need us most.