The bill H.91, which was vetoed by the Governor, aimed to establish the Vermont Homeless Emergency Assistance and Responsive Transition to Housing (VHEARTH) Program. This program was designed to replace the existing emergency housing services provided through the General Assistance Program and the Housing Opportunity Grant Program. The VHEARTH Program would have offered supportive services, emergency shelter, and extreme weather event shelters to households experiencing homelessness, with implementation planned to begin in fiscal year 2027. The bill mandated that the Department for Children and Families, along with community partners, develop detailed plans for the program's rollout, including performance measures, eligibility criteria, and funding allocations.

Additionally, the bill proposed an appropriation of $7 million for fiscal year 2026 to facilitate the transition to the VHEARTH Program. It also included provisions for community action agencies and organizations specializing in domestic or sexual violence support to conduct needs assessments and report their findings to the General Assembly. The bill allowed for the early implementation of certain elements of the VHEARTH Program before fiscal year 2027, contingent upon meeting specific conditions.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 33-22, 33-2115
As Passed By the House -- Official: 33-22, 33-2115, 3-59
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 3-59
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 33-22, 33-2115, 3-59, 33-2202
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 33-22, 3-59