From the Desk of Paul Dragon, 1/23/26

Weekly Update:

H 594 - Temporary Emergency Housing and Accountability Program
The Vermont Community Action Partnership testified on this at the House and Human Services yesterday (1.22.26,) and disagree with the framework of the bill and the specifics including capping shelter stays, residency requirements, and winding down the motel program in one year without adding a one for one match in additional shelter capacity. The testimony speaks for itself. You can find a recording of the discussion on the Vermont Legislature Website.

CVOEO / ORECI & UVM: Researching Winter Resilience and Climate Shock in the Lake Champlain Basin
CVOEO’s Office of Racial Equity & Community Inclusion (ORECI) and Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources are launching a two-year research project (Feb 2026 – Jan 2028) to study how refugees and newcomers in the Lake Champlain Basin experience Vermont’s winter. Led by Associate Professor Bindu Panikkar in collaboration with Helina Jolly, Assistant Professor at the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources along with ORECI Coordinator Pacifique Nsengiyumva, the study addresses "climate shock “the social, economic, and health challenges, such as Seasonal Affective Disorder, that arise when relocating to cold climates without generational winter knowledge. Using a Community-Based Participatory Research framework, the team will engage Community Ambassadors and residents through focus groups, surveys, and youth photo essays. This project aims to improve health equity, environmental literacy, and social resilience, creating actionable data to help diverse communities build deeper, more supportive connections with the Vermont landscape.

UVM and CVOEO/ ORECI Health Investment
The Office of Racial Equity and Community Inclusion has secured a multi-year grant from the UVM Community Health Investment Fund to launch the Community Health Investment initiative, which supports New Americans facing overlapping challenges such as limited housing, food insecurity, transportation barriers, childcare gaps, and untreated or stigmatized mental health needs. Rising costs and shifting policies have intensified stress in these communities, making culturally responsive support essential. To address this, the initiative will train CVOEO Community Ambassadors—trusted cultural and linguistic peers—to identify mental health concerns, reduce stigma through education, and connect families to essential resources by integrating mental health awareness into broader discussions of wellness and day-to-day needs. Phase 1 focuses on training five Ambassadors across key languages, and Phase 2 provides multilingual resource?navigation workshops for community members, supported by partner organizations and ongoing Ambassador engagement to ensure follow-up and continuity.

Senator Peter Welch Visits Feeding Champlain Valley
Senator Peter Welch has been a great supporter of our working visiting several times a year. He recently visited CVOEO’s Feeding Champlain Valley and Community Resource Center at 228 North Winooski Ave in Burlington, highlighting the vital role these programs play in supporting marginalized community members to get access to food, housing, and other resources. Justin, our Culinary Manager, and Charlie, our Food Truck & Meal Production Supervisor, spoke with the Senator about how Feeding Champlain Valley’s culinary team prepared and distributed over 77,000 meals to homes and sites in 2025.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
We do know Immigration and Customs enforcement has increased, and as we all know, CVOEO serves everyone to the best of our ability and resources. Please see the story below and a reminder to review our internal training and guidance.

ICE activity increases in Maine as anxiety grows in immigrant communities