Homelessness in Vermont impacts at least 4,500 people, including more than 1,000 children, and represents one of Vermont’s key barriers to early childhood health, safety, food security, and education. With community shelter capacity hovering at about 600 available spaces, access to the statewide General Assistance (GA) emergency housing program represents the only viable path to obtain shelter for many impacted families. Despite this reality, eliminating funding for statewide emergency shelter has been a priority of the Scott Administration. As a result, significant cuts to our emergency shelter system have left hundreds more individuals unsheltered. Last year, while our total population of homeless individuals remained largely steady, unsheltered homelessness rose by approximately 63%.

The Alliance supports efforts led by the ACLU of Vermont to reduce or eliminate unsheltered homelessness by preserving and expanding access to the GA emergency housing program for Vermont individuals and families experiencing homelessness. At a minimum, advocates seek to retain funding equal to FY26 Budget one-time and base appropriations of about $39 million.

Lead Organization: The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont

Data and Talking Points

• • According to the 2025 Vermont State of Homelessness Report, more than 1,000 children are experiencing homelessness in our state
  • There are only 600 shelter beds in the state to provide assistance to over 4,500 people, including 1,000 children (13%)
  • Research shows that 50 percent of homeless children under the age of four have developmental delays, a rate three to four times higher than that of those who do not experience homelessness