Vermont Faces Escalating Homelessness Crisis as ACLU Demands Action

In September 2025, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Vermont issued a statement highlighting the state's escalating homelessness crisis, declaring housing as a fundamental human right and a civil rights issue. The organization emphasized that Vermont has the second-highest rate of homelessness in the United States, with a threefold increase in individuals experiencing homelessness from January 2020 to January 2023. The ACLU criticized the state's decision to end its emergency motel-voucher program in the summer of 2023, a move that left thousands without temporary housing, including hundreds of children and individuals with disabilities. The ACLU's statement underscores the urgent need for compassionate and responsive government action to address systemic inequalities in housing access.

Vermont's homelessness crisis has reached unprecedented levels. The 2023 Point-in-Time (PIT) count identified 3,295 individuals experiencing homelessness, marking an 18.5% increase from 2022 and a tripling since 2019. This surge positioned Vermont with the second-highest rate of homelessness in the United States, at 51 per 10,000 people, trailing only New York. The termination of the state's emergency motel-voucher program in June 2023 has exacerbated the situation, leaving thousands without temporary housing. The ACLU's recent statement underscores the urgent need for compassionate and responsive government action to address systemic inequalities in housing access.

The emergency motel-voucher program was a pandemic-era initiative designed to provide temporary shelter to those experiencing homelessness. Its termination in June 2023 resulted in nearly 800 individuals being evicted from emergency shelters. Advocates have described the current situation as a "humanitarian crisis," with over 4,588 Vermonters, including more than 1,000 children and 269 seniors, experiencing homelessness as of June 2025.

In response to the crisis, the Vermont legislature passed H.91 in May 2025, aiming to reform the state's emergency housing program by transitioning away from the hotel/motel system and implementing support services and homelessness prevention measures. However, Governor Phil Scott vetoed the bill in June 2025, a decision that the ACLU of Vermont criticized, stating that the veto "endorses a continuation of under-resourced hotel/motel voucher program."

The escalating homelessness crisis in Vermont has profound social implications. The lack of stable housing affects individuals' health, employment opportunities, and overall well-being. The ACLU's emphasis on housing as a human right underscores the need for compassionate and responsive government action to address systemic inequalities in housing access.

Vermont's escalating homelessness crisis demands immediate and compassionate action. Recognizing housing as a fundamental human right is essential in developing effective policies and programs to address this pressing issue. The ACLU's call to action serves as a reminder of the collective responsibility to ensure safe and secure housing for all Vermonters.