Statement on the Budget Adjustment Act
On March 20th, Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak, Burlington School District Superintendent Tom Flanagan, and 10 of the city’s 11 councilors issued a formal appeal to Governor Phil Scott, urging him to sign the compromise Budget Adjustment Act (BAA) into law. Their letter highlights the severe consequences of the ongoing reductions in emergency shelter funding, which have left hundreds of Burlington residents without safe shelter options.
The letter emphasizes that approximately 250 people are sleeping outside on any given night this winter in Burlington alone—a 6.5-fold increase in unsheltered homelessness since 2023. The crisis has been exacerbated by the severe reduction in the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program (hotel/motel program) and the lack of adequate shelter capacity statewide.
In an effort to address the crisis, the City of Burlington adjusted its Emergency Extreme Cold Shelter policy, lowering the activation threshold to -10°F with windchill. The policy led to a nine-night emergency shelter activation, during which more than 620 bed nights were provided, serving an average of 70 people per night.
However, as the letter warns, the crisis will only intensify. On April 1, the Vermont Agency of Human Services (AHS) plans to exit 83 households from the motel program in Chittenden County alone. Among those affected are 18 families and 26 children—people who have nowhere else to go.
The signatories stress that municipalities and service providers do not have the resources to absorb this additional burden. “Your veto will have, not only for the households this affects but the strain that will be placed on municipalities and social service organizations who are already stretched to the limit. The City of Burlington has estimated $8 million in expenses related to unsheltered homelessness responses in calendar year 2024. ,” they note.
The letter implores Governor Scott to sign the compromise BAA, which would extend motel stays through June 30 and allow time to develop a sustainable transition plan. “We want to be partners in creating a sustainable and humane transition out of the motel program – however, that work becomes near impossible when we are constantly forced into a crisis response posture.” the letter concludes.
