Vermont Ends Motel Housing Program, Leaving Hundreds Homeless

The state caps emergency motel stays, prompting a crisis for vulnerable populations amid a severe housing shortage.

Around 230 households must vacate state-funded motel rooms this Thursday due to a new 80-day limit on stays.
The affected individuals include families, disabled people, pregnant women, and those who have faced domestic violence or natural disasters.
A new cap of 1,110 motel rooms for the warmer months has left many without accommodation, as shelters remain full.
Municipal leaders and advocates are calling for more state intervention, citing overwhelmed local resources and first responders.
Vermont's severe housing shortage, with a rental vacancy rate of just 3%, has contributed to a tripling of homelessness since 2019.