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 outlined that community action agencies and organizations with expertise in serving households affected by domestic or sexual violence would be responsible for delivering these services.

Additionally, the bill mandated the Department for Children and Families, along with community partners, to create implementation plans for the VHEARTH Program starting in fiscal year 2026. These plans would require reporting to the General Assembly on various aspects, including performance measures, eligibility criteria, and funding allocations. The bill proposed an appropriation of $7 million for fiscal year 2026 to facilitate the transition to the VHEARTH Program and allowed for the early implementation of certain program elements under 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