Dear Pastors and Admin folks,

Please help VIA, and our precariously housed neighbors, by running the blurb below to ask for phone calls to the Governor's office once again. You've probably seen the press coverage about how many Vermonters will be evicted when the motel program ends. We want to keep the pressure up on the Administration on behalf of those who will be evicted and left with no where to go.

Feel free to use the graphic below as well.

Thank you so much for your help!

Blessings,

Rev. Debbie Ingram

Call the Governor about the end to emergency housing

This week, approximately 730 Vermonters were sent out of the motels where they had been sheltered because they have no permanent housing. Over the next two months, another 2,000 people will be exited from this program. Although the Governor and his Administration have had two years or more to plan for alternate temporary housing options, they have not taken action to provide actual emergency housing units and have now pushed the problem onto our local communities. VIA is giving you three ways to help address this crisis: 1) take a minute every day next week to call the Governor's office; 2) take 5 minutes once this week to email your state representatives and senators; 3) provide direct assistance to the people coming out of the motel program.

1) Call the Governor at (802) 828-3333

with this message:

"It is unacceptable that 2,800 Vermonters are being pushed out of state emergency housing into our local communities when you had years to develop a better plan. These folks need a roof over their heads, not advice. Take concrete action by declaring a state of emergency to mobilize all available resources."

2) Email your state representatives and state senators (to find them, use this link) with this message:

"As one of my legislators, please clearly communicate to Governor Scott and the Secretary of the Agency of Human Services that your constituents find it unacceptable -- when they had years to develop a better plan -- that 2,800 Vermonters are being pushed out of state emergency housing into our local communities. Ask them, as leaders in the executive branch, to take concrete action by declaring a state of emergency to mobilize all available resources."

3) Sign up for direct assistance

And finally, although we hope this pressure will result in solutions -- we want to be ready to provide support ourselves if necessary. For anyone who would like to offer direct assistance, VIA's allies have prepared this form to sign up to help with a room, land to camp on, or meals and transportation.

For additional info, email [email protected].