Blog

‘A different paradigm’: Housing advocates praise wave of rent relief as answer to eviction fears

‘A different paradigm’: Housing advocates praise wave of rent relief as answer to eviction fears

Housing advocates are lauding a portion of the American Rescue Plan that will help Vermonters pay their rent and utilities bills, saying it will bolster an eviction prevention plan that has been a key public health measure during the pandemic.

Vermonters will receive $152 million for rent, mortgage and utilities assistance from the massive Covid-19 relief plan, according to the office of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. In total, the plan will send Vermont $2.7 billion for a gamut of programs.

Federal guidelines say 75% of the rental assistance money — about $114 million — must go directly to Vermonters to pay their rental bills. The remainder may go toward administrative costs and other forms of housing relief, such as stable housing for the homeless, said Stephen Klein, an analyst for the Legislative Joint Fiscal Office.