Executive Order No. 3-73 (No. 03-16) [Publicly Funded Housing for the Homeless]
WHEREAS, homelessness has been a persistent and growing problem within Vermont for
more than 30 years, affecting children, young adults, working families, and veterans;
WHEREAS, both the financial and human costs of homelessness strain public services
including health care, mental health care, and education;
WHEREAS, as federal housing resources have declined, affordable housing production
in Vermont has slowed and homelessness has increased;
WHEREAS, Vermont has a commitment to the quality of life for all of its citizens,
including through the launch of a statewide initiative to end child and family homelessness
in Vermont by 2020;
WHEREAS, State investments targeted to Vermonters experiencing homelessness — including
the Vermont Rental Subsidy, Family Supportive Housing, Housing Opportunity Program,
and Subsidy and Care Program — have shown effectiveness at breaking the cycle of homelessness;
WHEREAS, housing partners such as the Vermont State Housing Authority, the Vermont
Housing Finance Agency, and the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board have targeted
and coordinated resources to create supportive housing opportunities for Vermonters
who are homeless;
WHEREAS, the 2015 annual point-in-time count showed a modest decrease in homelessness
statewide, and housing partners across Vermont should commit to building on successes
to date; and
WHEREAS, in addition to increasing access to affordable housing, success in ending
homelessness requires a coordinated continuum of supports and services including Short-Term
Emergency Shelter, Targeted Transitional Housing, Rental Subsidies, Targeted Homelessness
Prevention Activities, Rapid Re-Housing, and Supportive Housing.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED I, Peter E. Shumlin, by virtue of the power vested in
me as Governor, do hereby establish a goal that owners of publicly funded housing
make available at least 15% of their affordable housing portfolio to homeless families
and individuals, including those with special needs who require service support and
rental assistance to secure and maintain their housing.
To implement this goal, I hereby direct that:
1. Housing organizations and homeless service providers that receive state funds, state-allocated
grants, and/or state tax credits shall work together to coordinate rental subsidies,
services, and economic support such that, when publicly supported housing units become
available, homeless families and individuals have the assistance and support needed
to make use of those units. These organizations are encouraged to adopt Memoranda
of Understanding or other mechanisms as tools to plan for achievement of this goal.
2. To ensure that homeless Vermonters have both the necessary supports and affordable
housing to achieve success, the Agency of Human Services (“AHS”) shall prioritize
and coordinate services and subsidies to homeless families and individuals, and shall
encourage recipients of AHS grants to work together with housing partners to meet
the 15% goal.
3. Public housing authorities and owners of privately owned publicly supported affordable
housing are encouraged to work towards the goal of making at least 15% of their units
available to homeless families and individuals as units change hands and are developed.
4. The Vermont Community Development Program (“VCDP”), the Vermont Housing and Conservation
Board (“VHCB”), and the Vermont Housing Finance Agency (“VHFA”) shall work together
to develop funding criteria that requires applicants for housing grants or tax credits
to describe plans and tools to achieve the goal of making at least 15% of their permanent,
publicly supported housing units available to the homeless. These funding criteria
shall apply to all applicants for housing grants or tax credits, subject to limited
exceptions. Applicants will also be asked to describe any “non-permanent” assistance,
such as shelter beds or transitional housing units. VCDP, VHCB, and VHFA shall report
annually to the Agency of Commerce and Community Development and AHS on the results
of this effort.
5. AHS shall provide training to housing managers and housing and homeless service providers
on how to successfully work with formerly homeless households.
6. State agencies and housing agencies are encouraged to seek new sources of federal
and philanthropic funding for housing development, services and subsidies.
7. In working towards the 15% goal, owners of age-restricted housing shall not be required
to make units available to individuals who do not meet their age restrictions.
This Executive Order shall take effect upon signing.
Dated April 20, 2016