Gov. Peter Shumlin says he’ll propose additional spending for anti-poverty programs in his upcoming budget to make up for federal cuts.
The governor has also announced the creation of a council to advise him on programs for low income Vermonters.
The governor and low income advocates haven’t always seen eye-to-eye.
Earlier this year Shumlin was criticized for his plan to tighten restrictions on the welfare to work program known as Reach Up.
In the past there has also been criticism of cuts made to the human services budget, which the administration says were necessary to meet revenue shortfalls.
"We're really trying to build a budget that doesn't further challenge our low income Vermonters." - Gov. Shumlin
But advocates joined the governor when he announced Monday that the budget he’ll propose in January will include funding increases for a number of low income programs.
Shumlin says he’ll boost state funding by just under $2.5 million dollars for a variety of programs that provide rent subsidies, shelters and services for the homeless, child care and substance abuse and mental health treatment services for low income Vermonters.
Shumlin says details on where the money will come from will have to wait until he presents his budget next month.
“We're really trying to build a budget that doesn't further challenge our low income Vermonters,” he said. “That means we don’t need to slash programs, it does mean we need to bend the rate of growth of programs.”
Secretary of Human Services Doug Racine says many of the increases Shumlin is proposing are necessary because of cuts in federal programs.
“We’re doing as well as any state out there in trying to deal with the shredding of the safety net from the federal programs,” Racine said. “What we’re proposing here today will certainly make a difference. It won’t make all the difference. We can’t make up for all of it.”
One federal program particularly hard hit provides rental assistance for low income Vermonters. Shumlin says the state has lost 774 Section 8 housing voucher slots since last year.
Linda Ryan, executive director of Samaritan House in St. Albans, says the governor’s plan to increase funding for the Vermont rental subsidy program will make up for some of the Section 8 vouchers that were lost as a result of the federal budget sequestration.
“This Vermont rental subsidy subsidizes their rent like a Section 8 would and it give them a year to get job training, to get on their feet,”Ryan explained.
Ryan will help lead a new group called the Governors Council on Pathways Out of Poverty.
The council will meet periodically to advise the governor on how to make anti-poverty programs more effective.
The increases Shumlin will propose include:
- $500,000 for the Vermont Rental Subsidy program (brings the total state funding to $1 million)
- $300,000 for Emergency Solutions Grants to help operate emergency shelters. This will make up for a loss of $200,000 in federal money and add another $100,000.
- An increase of $200,000 for case management and aid to families in need of housing.
- $800,000 for STARS child care providers and subsidies to qualified families based on updated payment calculations.
- $650,000 for substance abuse and mental health treatment services for the Reach Up program.
