State leaders are preparing to spend $200M on housing. Activists say they want more.

Legislative leaders and Gov. Phil Scott generally agree on a housing-first approach to the state’s housing crisis and are likely to sign off on spending packages this session that pour close to $200 million in federal cash — if not more — into various building initiatives.

But some housing advocates say that is not nearly enough and are calling on the state’s leaders to overhaul how anti-poverty programs are delivered, provide expansive new protections to renters and move away from congregate shelters for emergency housing.

“We are asking the state as a whole to never accept the experience of homelessness as inevitable for some but rather see and address the systemic failures that led to this huge challenge,” anti-poverty activist Brenda Siegel said during a virtual press conference Thursday.

The speaking event featured a handful of advocates and service providers. Siegel also was joined by several state lawmakers — including Senate President Pro Tempore Becca Balint, D-Windham, and Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden, two high-profile candidates vying for Vermont Democratic U.S. Rep. Peter Welch’s soon-to-be-vacated congressional seat.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2022/01/27/state-leaders-are-preparing-to-spend-200m-on-housing-activists-say-they-want-more/