While the Fair Housing Project is committed to keeping up-to-date information about fair & affordable housing policies, we acknowledge that policy changes are happening rapidly right now. This is new for everyone- for housing providers, policy makers, and citizens. Here are our updates as we understand them and available resources for support.
Evictions:
All eviction hearings are postponed until the courts reopen (currently scheduled for April 15 but we will see if that changes). Unfortunately that’s not enough as landlords can still technically start the eviction process (which even pre-corona is a long process, which varies but usually lasts… a few months?) Legal aid continues to advocate for this issue to be addressed and has updates here. They also address concerns folks may have about heat & water, emergency housing, food scarcity, unemployment benefits and other benefit concerns people may have in this time of changing policy.
Vermont Legal Aid advises the following if you are experiencing an eviction:
- If you are in the eviction process and you have a hearing scheduled before April 16, your hearing may have been postponed. Call your courthouse to confirm.
- If you have been ordered to pay rent into court, you need to keep making these payments. Vermont courts are severely limiting who enters their buildings beyond the lobby. Call your courthouse and ask how they would like to get your rent-into-court payment (by mail or in a dropbox in the lobby, for example).
- If you get a Writ of Possession, contact VT LegalAid right away to ask for help.
- While many in-court appearances are postponed, it is still possible for a landlord to file a Complaint to start the eviction process. If that happens, you still have to respond by filing an Answer within 21 days. Filing deadlines are still in effect. Learn more in the Evictions pages of the VTLegalaid website.
If you want to become involved in grassroots organizing of renters in Burlington, Burlington Tenants Union can be found here. If you have extra time on your hand now is a good moment to learn more about the housing issue in Vermont.
If you need help immediately navigating your rental situation or have questions about your lease, call Vermont Tenants statewide hotline –(802) 864-0099. Vermont Tenants can have a quicker turnaround in their response, will guide you to the correct resources when applicable, but will refer you to Vermont LegalAid if issue requires legal advice & action, such as withholding rent. Keep in mind that even our advocates who have been in the field a long time are discovering new avenues of support everyday as they emerge. We still await federal funds to be made has available so that we may know better how to move forward. We are all in a tense waiting game.
Moving during Shelter In Place
Can I move during shelter in place?
According to this recent episode of Vermont Edition, joined by Jared Carter, Assistant Professor of Law at Vermont Law School, Michael Schirling, Vermont Commissioner of Public Safety, and Congressman Peter Welch, the answer is yes, but practice social distancing and use precautions such as continued hand washing and disinfecting surfaces as advised by the CDC. Other questions this episode explores include how to handle joint custody and the protections that are in place for marginalized communities.
Can my landlord do showings of my apartment during shelter-in-place?
Vermont LegalAid advises that showing an occupied home during the state of emergency is operating a close-contact business in violation of the governor’s emergency declaration. You can deny entry and call the police to tell them what is happening. It is this kind of close contact that presents a risk of spreading infection.
- Tell your landlord about your concerns. Hopefully they will agree not to come to your home.
- People who have health issues that make them at extra risk of exposure can make a reasonable accommodation request. Send a letter to your landlord to ask them not to come to your home during this public health crisis. You can find a sample letter on our Reasonable Accommodation page.
- Normally, the landlord needs to give 48 hours notice before coming to your home. Learn more about the landlord access law.
That being said, all Tenant Rights remain in place during this time and can be find here. In addition, it is important to know that Burlington and Barre law limits the total amount of deposit a landlord can ask for to no more than one month’s rent, regardless of whether it is called a security deposit, a damage deposit or a pet deposit, last month’s rent, etc. Of course there are complications to that (pet deposit etc) so it is always good to call or email Vermont Tenants with questions.
State & Nation wide Policy
You can find the latest CDC recommendations here
Federal stimulus package:
The Democrats and the federal administration agreed on a $2 trillion economic stimulus package. The U.S. Senate passed the bill on Wednesday March 25 and is expected to pass by the House of Representatives quickly. You can read more about the process and what is included here. As of now, the package includes:
o $1,200 in direct payments to taxpayers with incomes up to $75,000 per year (and slowly phased out for people making between $75,000 and $99,000). Families would receive an additional $500 per child to create a safety net for those whose jobs and businesses are affected by the pandemic;
o Unemployment insurance extended by 13 weeks with four-month’s of enhanced benefits. The program includes freelancers, furloughed employees, and gig workers (such as Uber drivers);
o Federally-guaranteed loans available at community banks to small businesses that pledge not to lay off workers. The loans will be available during the emergency until June 30 and forgiven if the employer pays workers for the duration of the crisis;
o Loans for distressed companies would come from a $425 billion fund controlled by the Federal Reserve, and an additional $75 billion would be available for industry-specific loans — including to airlines and hotels;
o $100 billion for hospitals and health systems across the nation. It also includes billions more to furnish personal protective equipment and funds for health care workers, testing supplies, and new construction to house patients; and
o Increased Medicare payments to all hospitals and providers.
Our partners at The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition continue to advocate on the behalf of affordable housing and homelessness providers. For the latest, and more detailed updates on their efforts, click here.
Homeless providers take extra precautions to distance transient community.
In an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus among one of the state’s most vulnerable populations, the motel voucher system has also been expanded for homeless individuals who are particularly high risk for the disease, those who are older or have underlying health conditions. The city of Burlington secured campers to house folks at North Beach as well. More on here.
What does “Stay Home” Order Mean?
Read about Governor Scott’s Stay Home Order, who is and isn’t an essential worker, and what activities are permitted here.
Will Shelter in Place be enforced by law enforcement?
No. At this time, police will not be enforcing shelter in place. More information can be found here.
Resources:
An extensive list of Vermont resources, broken down region, can be found here. This document contains a rich plethora of resources, from where to find information, groups where folks are sharing resources, how to get financial relief, and more.
Our highlights include:
- In Burlington, VT the Resource & Recovery Center serves many of the following needs, including *financial support, lists community services available, volunteer opportunities, & grocery delivery services among other options*
- Delivery request form:
- Peace and Justice Center has a lot of resources, which are organized by county.
- Heineberg Community Center is organizing a buddy program for seniors (50 +)- for grocery services and support-
- The ONE Good Deed Fund is offering $$ for emergency purchases, I have heard good things:
- For the people who live there who are on a State program such as choices-for-care-program, they should have a case manager who can check on them by phone and work with them on a plan to meet their needs during this time. All Choices for Care providers have been directed by the State to be working on these plans with their clients.
And a lot of people are using this Facebook group, How Can I Help, to post most recent needs & questions. Be aware that the comments to posts can be very charged (crisis posts, political, fear inducing). Try not to let other people’s panic feed your own anxieties.
How can you help?
Are you wanting to be more involved but don’t know how? Here are some options:
Job Opportunities:
While many business have closed for the time being during this time of sheltering in place, many of our essential businesses are overburdened and in desperate need of support.
- Cathedral Square Corporation has openings for RESIDENT ASSISTANTS in BURLINGTON and WILLISTON. This is a great way to help your community in these troubled times. More info.
- Converse Home has a variety of openings including Care Assistants, Housekeeping, Servers, and more. More info.
- Call your local grocery stores and see if they are hiring.
Volunteer & Donations
Find a comprehensive list of ways to get involved here thanks to VTDigger!
To end this dense update, let’s take a moment to celebrate the innovation the Generator Makerspace community has used to meet our communities shortage of Personal Protective Equipment. In times of great need, citizens come up with creative, generous solutions.
Did we miss something vital? Do you have questions we haven’t answered, resources we missed, or stories of resilience you would like to share? Reach out. We are here for you.
Thank you for being a part of this thriving community.
Good work y’all! Thanks