Vermont H 594: An act relating to jurisdiction over building energy codes

Bill Text

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H.594 1
Introduced by Representatives Maguire of Rutland City and Wood of 2
Waterbury 3
Referred to Committee on 4
Date: 5
Subject: Human services; Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability 6
Program; Return Home Program 7
Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to establish the 8
Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program and the Return 9
Home Program in fiscal years 2027 and 2028. 10
An act relating to establishing the Temporary Emergency Housing and 11
Accountability Program and the Return Home Program in fiscal years 2027 12
and 2028 13
It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont: 14
Sec. 1. PURPOSE 15
It is the purpose of this act to: 16
(1) ensure that narrowly tailored, temporary emergency housing 17
assistance is available to only the most vulnerable Vermonters in crisis through 18
fiscal year 2028 in a manner that encourages efficient and accountable use of 19
taxpayer funds; 20

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(2) establish clear eligibility criteria, accountability measures, and case 1
management requirements; 2
(3) transition from reliance on hotels and motels toward sustainable, 3
permanent housing solutions, including recovery housing, transitional housing, 4
and the Vermont Housing Investment Program (VHIP); 5
(4) establish a tiered continuum of care; 6
(5) expand the use of alternative emergency housing models in 7
partnership with municipalities, nonprofit community-based providers, and 8
private landlords; 9
(6) integrate supportive services to assist households to achieve 10
permanent housing stability; 11
(7) establish transparent accountability measures, reporting 12
requirements, and oversight mechanisms; 13
(8) support self-sufficiency among Program participants by requiring 14
personal responsibility and active participation in housing searches; 15
(9) empower local communities to administer emergency housing 16
programs with maximum flexibility; and 17
(10) create a diversified system of emergency housing options, such as 18
shelters, transitional housing, recovery residences, shared housing 19
arrangements, host-home models, master-leased units, and rapid rehousing 20

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placements, that provide cost-effective, sustainable, and supportive outcomes 1
to Program participants. 2
Sec. 2. DEFINITIONS 3
As used in this act: 4
(1) “Administering agency” means the department, office, or designated 5
entity responsible for implementing and overseeing the provisions of this act. 6
(2) “Alternative housing options” means housing options such as 7
shelters, transitional housing, recovery residences, shared housing 8
arrangements, host-home models, master-leased units, and rapid rehousing 9
placements. 10
(3) “Applicant” means an individual or household that applies for 11
emergency housing assistance under this act. 12
(4) “Case management services” means individualized supports 13
connecting households to public benefits, health care, employment, and 14
permanent housing. 15
(5) “Cold-weather emergency shelter” means publicly funded shelter 16
beds made available to individuals during periods when temperatures or 17
weather conditions pose a risk to health and safety. 18
(6) “Department” means the Department for Children and Families. 19
(7) “Disability” means a physical, sensory, cognitive, developmental, or 20
mental health condition that substantially limits one or more major life 21

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activities, or that requires ongoing support, accommodation, or treatment to 1
maintain an individual’s health, safety, or independence. The term includes 2
chronic or episodic conditions that significantly impact daily functioning, 3
regardless of whether the individual is receiving, or is eligible to receive, 4
federal disability benefits. 5
(8) “Eligible individual” or “eligible household” means an individual or 6
group of individuals, respectively, without a fixed nighttime residence or at 7
immediate risk of losing housing within seven days, as verified by an 8
administering agency. 9
(9) “Emergency housing” means temporary shelter, lodging, or other 10
housing support provided to eligible individuals or eligible households when 11
no safe alternative housing option is immediately available. 12
(10) “Emergency housing assistance” means the provision of shelter, 13
temporary accommodations, or related services necessary to protect the health, 14
safety, and welfare of eligible individuals and eligible households. 15
(11) “Homeless” means lacking a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime 16
residence, including individuals and households that: 17
(A) reside in places not meant for human habitation, such as cars, 18
parks, abandoned buildings, or streets; 19

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(B) resid