Homelessness & Housing

Gov. Phil Scott, housing developers and advocates for municipalities are urging the lawmakers to reverse course on recent changes to a massive housing bill meant to reduce regulatory barriers and spur more housing production.

Between March 2020 and December 2022, a federally-funded program paid more than $160 million for motel and hotel rooms to shelter thousands of Vermonters. But many of those tenants have flagged abysmal conditions, and advocates are concerned there hasn't been enough state oversight or protections for renters.

During the extreme cold snap in early February, city officials say the number of people who used the temporary cold weather shelter in the New North End was higher than expected.

Rep. Troy Headrick, a Progressive/Democrat who represents Chittenden County, has introduced a bill that would hold the university to enrollment numbers as of July 2023 until the rental vacancy rate reaches 5%.

Host Mikaela Lefrak talks about a bill working its way through the Vermont Legislature that would make changes to the 50-year-old land-use law Act 250 and spur housing development.

Host Connor Cyrus speaks with a roundtable of Vermont political reporters about key legislation in the first month of the

Host Mikaela Lefrak talks with a planner, affordable housing advocate and business owner about the housing boom in Morrisville.

This hour, host Connor Cyrus speaks with a state tax official about mandatory home reappraisals in Vermont and what they mean for homeowners and potential buyers.

This week, lawmakers in the Vermont House and Senate unveiled proposals that try to make the state's zoning ordinances more conducive to new development. That's as Vermont's housing shortage continues.

Across Vermont, lunch is served at dozens of senior centers and church basements nearly every day. People show up to get a free meal and warm up or just to socialize. In St. Johnsbury, several of these community lunches stopped during the pandemic. Some have only just started up again.