HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS DAY & MEMORIAL VIGIL
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2018
STATE HOUSE, MONTPELIER
Your voice is needed at the State Capitol! Come to Montpelier to tell lawmakers how we can end homelessness in Vermont! Join advocates from all across the state at Homelessness Awareness Day at the State House. We need you to engage with representatives and senators in your service area to let them know what is needed to make homelessness a brief and infrequent experience in our state. PLEASE JOIN US!
REVISED SCHEDULE
7:30 – 9:00 Coffee, muffins & meetings with legislators, Cafeteria (best time to meet with lawmakers)
7:30 – 3:00 Legislative Awareness Day (meet & greet lawmakers), Card Room
9:00 – 11:00 Joint hearing of House Human Services and General, Housing & Military Affairs Committees – Room 11
11:00 – 11:30 Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee – Room 27
12:00 – 12:30 Memorial Vigil, State House Steps
1:00 – 1:30 Reading of Legislative Resolution & Recognition of Homeless Service Providers & Advocates, House Gallery
1:30 – 2:30 Public Hearing on the Governor’s Recommended FY 2018 Budget Adjustment, House Appropriations Committee – Room 10
OUR MESSAGE
We thank Governor Scott and lawmakers for supporting all the state resources needed to help reduce homelessness, especially the $35 million housing bond, which is a *major* step forward.
Please continue to support the investments we need to solve our affordable housing shortage and implement the recommendations of the “Roadmap to End Homelessness,” investments that will:
Create new affordable homes for Vermonters,
Provide rental assistance and other financial supports to fill the gap between our high rents and what low-income Vermonters can afford, and
Deliver supportive services needed for Vermonters with the greatest challenges to remain stably housed.
Vermont has successful programs that deliver proven outcomes. Please continue to support full funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, and increased investments in the Vermont Rental Subsidy Program, Mental Health Rental Assistance Vouchers, Family Supportive Housing, Housing Opportunity Grant Program, Corrections Transitional Housing, and Housing First.
OVERVIEW
The day will kick off early at 7:30am with coffee and muffins in the Cafeteria. This will be a great time to meet with your representatives and senators to discuss the good work you and your organization are doing. 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.
People will be present in the Card Room 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. The Card Room is on the 2nd floor, on the way into the cafeteria.
From 9-11am there will be a joint hearing of the House General, Housing & Military Affairs and House Human Services Committees in Room 11, with many witnesses from the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness and the Chittenden Homeless Alliance scheduled to speak. Click here for the schedule of witnesses.
From 11-11:30am there will be additional testimony on homelessness in the Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee. You may also be interested to sit in on testimony in this committee from several key housing agency heads (DHCD, VHCB, VHFA) starting at 9am. Click here for the schedule of witnesses.
At Noon community members, elected officials, and advocates will gather on 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.
At 1:00pm, please be seated in the House Visitor’s Gallery at the rear of the House Chamber to hear the reading of a resolution recognizing those experiencing homelessness and the good work you do to help reduce their plight.
**ALERT** At 1:30pm the House Appropriations Committee will hold a Public Hearing on the Governor’s Recommended FY 2018 Budget Adjustment in Room 10. DCF has proposed a $200,000 cut to the highly successful Vermont Rental Subsidy Program. Please contact committee staff person Theresa Utton-Jerman at tutton@leg.state.vt.us or 802-828-5767 to speak against this cut. Please also support DCF’s request to increase the Emergency Housing budget by $871,000. Click here for more information, or contact Erhard Mahnke at erhardm@vtaffordablehousing.org or 233-2902.
TIPS FOR MAKING HOMELESSNESS AWARENESS DAY A SUCCESS
Strong Turn-Out Will Be Key – It is essential that we create a strong presence in the State House. Bring folks from your organization: board members, clients, staff, and local supporters. A strong show of support will be particularly important for the Memorial Vigil at 12 noon outside, on the State House steps, and also at 1pm in the House Chamber when your work will be recognized by the entire body.
Meetings with Lawmakers – Quality interactions with representatives and senators from your service area are critical to the day’s success. One-on-one or small group meetings are the best way to get our message across. To guarantee the most effective use of your time, please make appointments in advance, if possible. If you haven’t done so already, please CALL or EMAIL as soon as possible. Breakfast and after the Vigil at lunch are the best times to schedule your meetings.
How to Contact Your Representatives & Senators – Send them an email or call the Sergeant-at-Arms desk at 1-800-322-5616 and leave a message. Let them know that you’ll be at the State House this Wednesday and would like to meet. Their contact information is in the legislative directory. If you can’t get an appointment ahead of time, let them know when you’ll be at the State House. If you can’t find them when you arrive, you can send a note via a legislative page. Be sure to note where you are in the State House.
An Exciting Day is Planned – Governor Phil Scott, Lt. Governor David Zuckerman, House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Ashe, Human Services Secretary Al Gobeille, and the chairs of key legislative committees, Reps. Helen Head and Ann Pugh and Senator Michael Sirotkin, are all confirmed to speak at the Vigil. And there are numerous committee meetings for you to sit in on.
Sign in and get a nametag when you arrive – They will be available in the Card Room (second floor, on the way into the cafeteria). Legislators appreciate name tags with your name, your organization and the town you vote in.
Parking – Is always a challenge in Montpelier. You can try on-street parking wherever you can find it. Other options include the Capitol Plaza lot off State Street, the Department of Labor parking lot on Green Mountain Drive (second left after you come off the interstate, just past the first traffic light). Also, the Capitol Shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 7:20 am – 5:20 pm. Do not park in areas designated for legislative parking – you will be towed!
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**A FINAL NOTE** The monthly Affordable Housing Coalition meeting normally scheduled for this Wednesday has been rescheduled for Wednesday, January 24, 9:30 – 12:00, at the Vermont Center for Independent Living, 11 East State Street. The meeting time has been extended to include a special legislative advocacy training by Matt Levin of the Vermont Early Childhood Alliance.
Thanks for your help and cooperation and see you at the State House on Wednesday!
Joshua Davis Groundworks Collaborative Co-Chair, VT Coalition to End Homelessness jdavis@groundworksVT.org
Peter Kellerman John Graham Housing & Services Co-Chair, VT Coalition to End Homelessness peter@johngrahamshelter.org
Erhard Mahnke Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition erhardm@vtaffordablehousing.org