Every year in January concerned citizens and housing and homeless service providers from across Vermont gather at the State House in Montpelier for a day to engage their representatives and to renew the commitment to end homelessness in our state. This year, the annual Homelessness Awareness Day and Memorial Vigil will take place on Thursday, January 5th, 2017. Please join us!
Agenda
Legislative Awareness Day, Card Room: 7:30 AM-2 PM
Reading of Legislative Resolution and Recognition of Homeless Service Providers and Advocates, House Gallery: 9:30 AM
Memorial Vigil, State House Steps: Noon
The day will kick off early at 7:30am in the Card Room. People will be present all morning and into the afternoon to educate lawmakers about the work being done around the state, about which strategies are working, and what still needs to be done to help end homelessness in Vermont. Please use this time to meet with legislators and discuss the good work you and your organization are doing in your region. To make your time at the state house most effective, please be sure to reach out to lawmakers prior to the event to ask them to meet with you. At 9:30pm be in the House Gallery to hear the reading of a resolution recognizing those experiencing homelessness and the work being done by homeless service providers and advocates. At Noon community members, elected officials, and advocates will take to the State House steps for the annual Memorial Vigil to remember our friends and neighbors who have died without homes, and to bring awareness of the struggles of those still searching for safe, affordable and secure housing. Please circulate our flyer to your networks to help raise awareness about the day and increase turnout. Please note that it is also Governor-elect Scott’s inauguration day, and so it would be best to arrive in Montpelier as early as possible to account for the special security measures at the State House that day. We hope to see you there! For more information, contact MaryEllen Mendl at maryellen@unitedwaysvt.org, or Erhard Mahnke at erhardm@vtaffordablehousing.