Housing Stability

Why Is This Important?

Safe and stable housing is critical to all clients of the Agency of Human Services.

The Departments of AHS are attuned to the housing needs of clients to ensure that programs promote housing stability for Vermonters. The Agency, and it's many state and local partners, support a continuum of housing-related services in the community. The Agency's housing strategy focuses on the six housing service areas listed below.

Budget Information

What We Do

Through grants to community partners, the DOC supports the provision of transitional housing, rental assistance, housing search and retention, and other supportive services for individuals released to the community from Vermont's correctional facilities. The primary purposes of the program are to:

1. Promote housing stability of individuals returning to the community from incarceration;
2. Supervise and support individuals in the least restrictive environment (conducive with public safety); and
3. Provide opportunities for reintegration and connections to community and services.

With a safe, stable place to live, participants are able to find employment, engage in substance abuse and mental health treatment, pursue education or training opportunities, and connect to services that will support their long-term stability in the community. 

Who We Serve

Priority is given to individuals being released to the community from incarceration, as well as individuals who are supervised in the community and are at risk of being (re)incarcerated due to lack of appropriate and stable housing. Most participants are on furlough/conditional reentry status, and all participants are under some level of Department of Corrections (DOC) supervision.

The individuals we serve have multiple and complex needs often related to mental health, substance abuse, employment, transportation, rental history (or lack thereof), and education, just to name a few.

How We Impact

The DOC works in partnership with Designated Agencies, Public Housing Authorities, Community Justice Centers, affordable housing providers, private landlords, municipalities, and non-profit organizations. 

To gauge whether participants are "Better Off" after having participated in transitional housing programs, we measure the following:

• % who were not charged with a new crime while in the program;
• % of participants who were employed, enrolled in an educational or training program, or receiving benefits (TANF, SSI, VA, General Assistance, etc.) at exit; and
• # (and %) who exited to permanent housing (included in this report).

Additionally, program activities support community connections and integration.

What We Do

Who We Serve

How We Impact

What We Do

The Family Supportive Housing (FSH) Program provides intensive case management and service coordination to homeless families with children and helps house families through partnership with housing providers. The program's goal is to reduce the incidence and duration of homelessness through supports for families as they transition to and sustain permanent housing over time. Service coordination and case management focus on the root causes of a family's homelessness; promote resiliency for parents and their children; and help households build financial capability. FSH staff take a holistic, two-generation approach using non-judgmental, positive, and trauma-informed communication and engagement in their support of families.

Who We Serve

Families with children under the age of six who have had multiple episodes of homelessness or engagement with Family Services are prioritized for the program. OEO administers funding which supports Family Supportive Housing at seven community-based providers: Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro, Rutland, St. Johnsbury and White River Junction.

How We Impact

Service Coordinators provide customized home-based case management; financial empowerment coaching; life skills support and referrals; tenant education; parent and child resiliency support; and support of addiction recovery. FSH Service Coordinators align and coordinate these services with existing Agency of Human Services programs and initiatives.

Budget Information

Budget Information

What We Do

The Housing Opportunity Grant Program supports basic operations and essential services at 39 emergency shelters in Vermont.

Who We Serve

Individuals and families who become homeless are served through a network of homeless shelters, domestic and sexual violence shelters and motels.

How We Impact

Individuals and families who come into shelter are provided support services, housing navigation services and referrals to housing supports such voucher programs and other forms of economic assistance so they can find permanent affordable housing.

What We Do

Who We Serve

How We Impact

Budget information

Home Share Now Grants:

SFY2019     SFY2018    SFY2017    SFY2016

$147,223    $147,223   $147,223   $147,223  

MCO Investment Expenditures for both homesharing programs: includes indirect allocations to GC MCO (per DAIL business office):  

SFY2019 Plan   SFY2018 est.    SFY2017 actual  SFY2016 actual

$342,000          $341,000          $340,882           $339,966

What We Do

Home Share Now facilitates mutually beneficial homeshare matches.  Home Share Now’s matching process includes in-person interviews, housing and personal references, employment verification, background screenings, facilitated introductions, a trial period, and written agreements.  Home Share Now provides conflict coaching, problem solving, facilitation, written agreements, and mediation for the duration of the match.  As of October 31, 2019, Home Share Now is closing.  Consumers of Home Share Now will have the option to continue to receive services through HomeShare Vermont's expanded service area.

Who We Serve

Home Share Now serves Vermonters in Washington and Orange Counties and a few outlying towns. Most people sharing their homes (hosts) are seniors or persons with disabilities, and many people looking for housing (guests) are financially challenged by market rents or are in a housing transition. 

How We Impact

Home Share Now:

• Helps make housing more affordable for Vermonters   
• Helps older Vermonters and Vermonters with disabilities stay in their own homes
• Helps improve the quality of life for homesharing participants, who report that they feel safer, less lonely, eat better, and feel healthier

Budget information

SASH grants:

SFY2020   SFY2019    SFY2018    SFY2017   SFY2016

$974,023   $974,023    $974,023    $974,023   $974,023

MCO Investment expenditures for SASH: includes indirect allocations to GC MCO (per DAIL business office):

SFY2020          SFY2019 plan   SFY2018 est.   SFY2017 actual   SFY2016 actual

$1,024,000       $1,024,000        $1,023,000       $1,022,170           $1,013,283   

What We Do

SASH coordinates the resources of social-service agencies, community health providers and nonprofit housing organizations to support Vermonters who choose to live independently at home. Individualized, on-site support is provided by a Wellness Nurse and a SASH Care Coordinator.

Who We Serve

SASH serves older adults as well as people with special needs who receive Medicare support. SASH touches the lives of approximately 4,500 people throughout Vermont.

How We Impact

Benefits to SASH Participants:

• Improved quality of life

• Comprehensive health and wellness assessments

• Individualized Healthy Living Plans

• Money savings through preventive health care

• Regular check-ins by caring staff

• Health coaching and access to wellness nurses

• Help in planning for successful transitions (e.g., following hospitalization), navigating long-term care options and during a crisis

• Access to prevention and wellness programs

• Support in self-managing medications