Thanks to all who made our 2024 Homelessness Awareness Day a success on Thursday Jan. 18!
Service and shelter providers and housing advocates from across the state joined homeless and formerly homeless Vermonters to reflect on all we must do in the coming year to end homelessness in Vermont!
This year’s Homelessness Awareness Day took place at the statehouse in Montpelier, virtually, and at many locations around the state on Thursday January 18th. The Housing & Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, Vermont Interfaith Action, and Chittenden County Homeless Alliance sponsored the activities related to Homelessness Awareness Day.
Check out media coverage of our events
VT Digger · Brattleboro Reformer · St. Albans Messenger · VT Community Newspaper Group · NBC5 · National Low Income Housing Coalition
Check out what local regions around the state did to raise awareness in their communities!
Homelessness Awareness Day Events with WRJ VA Healthcare System & VT Veterans Committee on Homelessness
Virtual Training and Discussion about Vermont’s Legislative Process Tuesday January 16th 5 PM
View the slides from the training HERE.
Kara Casey, VT Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence and Beverly Boget, Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance led a virtual training and discussion about Vermont’s legislative process. The session addressed how to effectively engage with lawmakers on the issues advocates and providers care about.
Homelessness Awareness Day Events on Jan. 18th
8 AM – 5 PM Statehouse Cardroom, Montpelier
HHAV, VIA, and CCHA members were stationed in the card room at the statehouse in Montpelier. Representatives from the sponsoring organizations were available to speak with legislatures and other interested parties.
We had a large state map of Vermont with regional data on the state of homelessness in Vermont over the past year. The data on this map reflected the flag displays both at the state house and around the state.
Volunteers attending the statehouse homelessness awareness events are encouraged to schedule meetings with their lawmakers. Please visit this page for contact information.
9:15 AM – 12 PM House Committee Testimony
Watch via VT House Committee on Housing, General & Military Affairs’ YouTube Channel
10:15 – 10:45 AM Senate Committee Testimony
Watch via VT Senate Economic Development, Housing, & General Affairs YouTube Channel.
A number of advocates, service providers, and people with lived experience provided joint testimony to the following committees:
- House General, Housing and Military Affairs Committee
- House Human Services Committee
- Senate Economic Development, Housing & General Affairs Committee
12 PM Memorial Vigil/Speak-Out on Statehouse Steps
Community members, elected officials, and advocates joined a gathering on the statehouse steps at noon.
This gathering was led by Julie Bond, Minister and Co-Executive Director at Good Samaritan Haven, and began with a non-denominational remembrance to remember our friends and neighbors who have died without homes or died will serving unhoused populations this past year and to bring awareness of the struggles of those still searching for safe, affordable and secure housing. We also heard from persons from around the state who have been affected by homelessness, either personally, as a service provider, or by having those close to them experiencing homelessness.
Statehouse Lawn Flag Display
All day on January 18th, there was a display on the statehouse lawn with flags depicting the number of children, adults, in elders who experienced homelessness in Vermont in 2023. Each flag represented 10 Vermonters who have experienced homelessness in the past year. This flag display was mirrored in a number of regions across Vermont who also displayed flags representing the number of persons who experienced homelessness in their region over the past year.
These numbers represent the number of persons who experienced homelessness in our region between January 1, 2023 and December 31, 2023. These numbers are pulled from our Homelessness Management Information System and Coordinated Entry list. The numbers are a baseline and are always an undercount as they do not include many individuals including those served and supported through domestic & sexual violence programs, many who are unsheltered and unable to seek help through service providers in their region, and those who are at risk of homelessness.
Homelessness Awareness Day Events with WRJ VA Healthcare System & VT Veterans Committee on Homelessness
The White River Junction VA Healthcare System and VT Veterans Committee on Homelessness joined Veterans with lived experience, colleagues and community partners to highlight Veterans homelessness by hosting a pop-up soup kitchen. The group acknowledged the more than 300 Veterans who’ve experienced homelessness in our region during 2023 and provided resources and information for those in attendance.
This event was held on site at the White River Junction VA Medical Center, in front of the Mountains Building, starting at 10:00 AM.