S. 79, Rental Housing and Safety Bill, Passed During Veto Session S. 79, the Rental Housing and Safety Bill, passed this week when the Legislature reconvened for the veto session. This bill fell one procedural vote short of securing final passage during the regular legislative session. Senators voted 20 – 10 on Thursday to concur with the House proposal of amendment and secure final passage. This bill will improve rental housing and safety by: establishing a rental housing registry; creating a statewide enforcement mechanism for the State Rental Housing Health Code; and making permanent the Vermont Housing Investment Program. Passing a Rental Housing and Safety bill has been a long-term priority for affordable housing advocates in Vermont. If signed into law by Governor Scott, this will be a crucial step forward in protecting Vermont tenants’ access to safe, adequate rental housing. | |
Families Can Benefit From Expanded Child Tax Credit – Share To Your Networks This year, there are some important changes to note about the expanded federal Child Tax Credit. Families with children who do not usually file taxes are now eligible, and the amount of the credit has increased substantially to $300 per month for children under 6 and $250 per month for older children. This tax credit could potentially reach 30,000 households who were not previously eligible for the full credit and benefit 91% of Vermont’s population under the age of 18. For more information about the tax credit, and to find readily available information to share within your networks, visit whitehouse.gov/child-tax-credit/ or share the Child Tax Credit Non-Filer Sign-Up Tool directly. | |
Renew Your Membership with the Alliance for 2021 Now is a great time to renew your membership with the Alliance for 2021! The Alliance is a coalition of early childhood organizations, professionals, providers, parents, and employers and our membership drives our work. While pandemic response dominated the 2021 Legislative session, the collective strength and experience of our members helped make this an extremely successful year for many of the issues that were on the Alliance’s Legislative Agenda – click here for a full recap. The benefits of membership are many, but most of all, it brings us closer together. Through a wide array of advocacy supports – Early Childhood Day at the Legislature, our monthly Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion discussions, advocacy training, etc. – the Alliance is here to support your advocacy and professional development. Click here to renew your membership with the Alliance. If you would like to request a fee waiver, pay via check, or if you have any questions – please email Dan Brown at dan@vecaa.org. | |
2021 KIDS COUNT Data Book Released The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently released the 2021 KIDS COUNT Data Book, a 50-state report of annual household economic data. This year’s report found that Vermont ranked fourth among states for overall child well-being, a slight improvement from the previous year and a reflection of the state’s commitment toward building a comprehensive social safety net. The report details Vermont’s progress, yet illustrates that bold action is still needed to ensure an equitable recovery from the pandemic and to address racial inequities across the state. Read a full review of the report and the Vermont data from Voices for Vermont’s Children here. | |
