Vermont to offer emergency housing this winter as part of Hotel-Motel program - WPTZ

This winter, Vermont is again providing temporary emergency housing in hotels and motels across the state."It is a lifesaving measure, and if you need the help, we want to help you," Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner for Economic Services at Vermont's Department for Children and Families, said.The program is also known as the 'Hotel-Motel' voucher program.Related: NBC5 In Depth: Dealing with Vermont's housing crisis"The only difference is that we have a 30% income contribution, so those that have income will need to contribute some. And that is across all of the programs that we're running right now," Gray said.The program officially starts on Nov. 15 on a night-to-night, short-term basis.From then until Dec. 15, DCF will have daily weather checks and determine where to place people.During that time, the emergency housing is only available from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. if temperatures or the wind chill are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a predicted 50% or more chance of precipitation.From Dec. 15 to March 15, the program switches to a "date to date" format, allowing people to stay in one room for up to 28 days at a time, regardless of the weather and depending on the location.Then, from March 15 to April 15, the state returns to the same night-to-night model as it ran in the fall.This winter, DCF said there are around 70 hotels and motels signed up for the program."We're working with less hotels than we did last winter," Gray said. "The flood impacted some of the hotels we worked with, and then we've also had some who have chosen to no longer work with the state."However, she said the need for the emergency shelters hasn't changed."During the pandemic, our normal changed significantly," Gray said. "Pre-pandemic, we only housed around 250 households during the winter. Last winter, we were serving 1,800 households. We're anticipating this winter around 1,500 households."To qualify for the temporary housing, the state said you only need to demonstrate that you do not have a place to stay for the night.Plus, new this year is a FEMA-specific program for flood victims."That one through FEMA is very specific; you have to have experienced the flood, you have to be eligible for FEMA, and there's some other eligibility categories that would help those households," Gray said.Each of these programs, Gray said, is only serving as a temporary solution to a long-term problem.Related: State officials lay out plan to fix Vermont's housing crisis"Truly it is that we need more housing. If we don't want to have this be what the normal is in Vermont, then we have to make investments there," Gray said.If you need emergency housing at any time of year, you can call 1-800-775-0506 to reach Vermont's emergency housing hotline.

This winter, Vermont is again providing temporary emergency housing in hotels and motels across the state.

"It is a lifesaving measure, and if you need the help, we want to help you," Miranda Gray, Deputy Commissioner for Economic Services at Vermont's Department for Children and Families, said.

The program is also known as the 'Hotel-Motel' voucher program.

Related: NBC5 In Depth: Dealing with Vermont's housing crisis

"The only difference [this year] is that we have a 30% income contribution, so those that have income will need to contribute some. And that is across all of the programs that we're running right now," Gray said.

The program officially starts on Nov. 15 on a night-to-night, short-term basis.

From then until Dec. 15, DCF will have daily weather checks and determine where to place people.

During that time, the emergency housing is only available from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. if temperatures or the wind chill are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit or temperatures are below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with a predicted 50% or more chance of precipitation.

From Dec. 15 to March 15, the program switches to a "date to date" format, allowing people to stay in one room for up to 28 days at a time, regardless of the weather and depending on the location.

Then, from March 15 to April 15, the state returns to the same night-to-night model as it ran in the fall.

This winter, DCF said there are around 70 hotels and motels signed up for the program.

"We're working with less hotels than we did last winter," Gray said. "The flood impacted some of the hotels we worked with, and then we've also had some who have chosen to no longer work with the state."

However, she said the need for the emergency shelters hasn't changed.

"During the pandemic, our normal changed significantly," Gray said. "Pre-pandemic, we only housed around 250 households during the winter. Last winter, we were serving 1,800 households. We're anticipating this winter around 1,500 households."

To qualify for the temporary housing, the state said you only need to demonstrate that you do not have a place to stay for the night.

Plus, new this year is a FEMA-specific program for flood victims.

"That one through FEMA is very specific; you have to have experienced the flood, you have to be eligible for FEMA, and there's some other eligibility categories that would help those households," Gray said.

Each of these programs, Gray said, is only serving as a temporary solution to a long-term problem.

Related: State officials lay out plan to fix Vermont's housing crisis

"Truly it is that we need more housing. If we don't want to have this be what the normal is in Vermont, then we have to make investments there," Gray said.

If you need emergency housing at any time of year, you can call 1-800-775-0506 to reach Vermont's emergency housing hotline.