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 services to be delivered by community action agencies and organizations specializing in support for those affected by domestic or sexual violence starting in fiscal year 2027.

Additionally, the bill mandated the Department for Children and Families, along with community partners, to create implementation plans for the VHEARTH Program beginning in fiscal year 2026. These plans would have included reporting on performance measures, eligibility criteria, and funding allocations, as well as the submission of needs assessments to the General Assembly. 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