| | This Issue Update newsletter is part of a series that provides more information on each priority issue on the Alliance's 2021 Legislative Agenda. The Legislative Agenda is crafted annually in partnership with early childhood organizations that are advancing legislative policy solutions related to health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The 11 priority issues were selected by the Alliance's 21 member Steering Committee. | | Housing and Homelessness The Alliance supports the Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC) in securing full statutory funding for the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board, increased rental assistance and supportive services, and statewide housing code enforcement. The state’s chronic underfunding of housing needs means we must find equitable new revenue sources, like a proposed tax surcharge on high-end homes. Continue reading for more information on this priority issue, including data and talking points, connections to the lead organization and other partners, and advocacy tools. | | | |  | Talking Point - Strategic investments in housing, financial supports, and services help reduce and prevent homelessness; improve the lives of children, families, and vulnerable Vermonters; improve their physical and mental well-being; and improve their chances to succeed and live independent lives – all while building strong, healthy communities.
| | | |  | Homelessness Awareness Day and Memorial Vigil – 1/27, 9:00am – 2:00 pm Advocates, service providers, and dedicated Vermonters from across the state will virtually convene on January 27 for the annual Homelessness Awareness Day and Memorial Vigil. Join VAHC, the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, and the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance in the Zoom room, or watch along on the YouTube livestream, to tell your lawmakers how we can alleviate and end homelessness in Vermont. The pandemic highlights the dire need to end homelessness for all. Today, more than ever, housing is the foundation upon which all else stands. Tell your representatives and senators that every Vermonter deserves safe, secure, and affordable housing and let them know what they can do to support the work of ending homelessness in our communities! The agenda for this virtual day of advocacy and awareness includes testimony to legislative committees, a commemorative vigil, a call-in/letter writing campaign, and more! Participate by registering through Zoom or tuning in to the YouTube livestream. | | | | Increase Access to Safe, Stable and Affordable Housing for All Children Safe, stable and affordable housing is essential to children’s well-being and success. Housing instability, homelessness, and unsafe housing contribute to childhood trauma, ACEs, and negative outcomes. Increasing state investments in affordable housing, reducing homelessness, and improving the health and safety of rental housing are critical to improving children’s outcomes. | | | | Lead Organization: Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition The Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition (VAHC) is a statewide membership organization dedicated to ensuring that all Vermonters have safe, adequate, physically accessible, and affordable housing, particularly the state’s low and moderate-income residents, people with disabilities, the homeless, elders, and families with children. | | | |  | Resources and Advocacy Tools | | | | Get Involved - Attend Homelessness Awareness Day and Vigil virtually on 1/27 – participate by registering through Zoom or tuning in to the YouTube livestream.
- Sign up for the VAHC newsletter- email Sara Fleming at sara@vtaffordablehousing.org.
- Visit VAHC’s website for an evolving list of action items.
- Support:
- Capital investments to create more permanently affordable housing: fully fund the Vermont Housing and Conservation Board at the full statutory amount.
- Housing‐related financial assistance that fills the affordability gap for low‐wage working families or those living on fixed incomes: increase annual funding for the Vermont Rental Subsidy and the Department of Mental Health’s Subsidy+Care programs to $2 million each.
- Supportive services for those with the greatest challenges to finding and maintaining housing: expand Medicaid funding as a stable funding source for tenancy supports.
| | | | Schedule an Advocacy Training Schedule an Alliance training for a group of early childhood professionals, providers, parents, or employers interested in strengthening their advocacy skills or learning more about the issues on the Alliance’s Legislative Agenda. Be informed and ensure your voice is heard on issues impacting Vermont's young children and families! To set up a training, email Matt Levin, Alliance Executive Director, at matt@vecaa.org. | | | | | |  | | | | | The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a statewide coalition formed in 2000 of early childhood professionals, parents, organizations, businesses, and strategic partners committed to improving public policies that impact young children between birth and age eight in the areas of health, safety, food security, economic security, and early care and education. The Alliance crafts an annual Legislative Agenda in partnership with early childhood organizations, provides year-round advocacy support, and facilitates meaningful interactions with policymakers at key times during the decision making process. | | | | 15 State Street | Montpelier , Vermont 05602 vecaa.org The Vermont Early Childhood Advocacy Alliance is a program of the Vermont Community Loan Fund. | | | | | | | | | |
