Vermont food banks say they are seeing an increase in the number of people in need of services, driven in part by inflation and the high cost of living. This comes on the heels of the pandemic, when Vermont experienced record-high levels of food insecurity.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Fair Housing Project and the Vermont Tenants Hotline receive a lot of questions related to assistance animals from renters and also from housing and service providers around the state. I’m writing to share some information about fair housing rights for people with disabilities, provide resources for anyone experiencing discrimination in their housing, and advocate for a shift in how transitional housing providers accommodate both assistance animals and pets.
Vermont's rental housing crisis: the tenants' view
Tenant rights: What Vermont renters need to know
There will now be more support for the homeless in Northwest Vermont, as the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity has announced that they are taking over operations of Samaritan House and Tim’s House, both are emergency shelter organizations.
The Samaritan House is now being managed by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity will assume operations of Samaritan House and Tim’s House this summer. As a program of CVOEO, the emergency shelter will be sustained as a community asset and critical resource for people in need.
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunities community resource center has a new home for the time being. Feeding Chittenden, a branch of CVOEO, is housing the community resource center for now. The VFW building used to be CVOEO”s home base, but when that ended, Feeding Chittenen offered their dining area space.
This commentary is by Paul Dragon, executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity.
Vermont has a reputation for strong environmental regulations. But it’s one of the last states in New England to have an environmental justice policy on the books, even though the EPA has been pushing for it to happen since 2016. Lawmakers are weighing a bill this week that would create one.