This commentary is by Isaac Evans-Frantz, of Brattleboro. Evans-Frantz is the clerk of the Brattleboro Selectboard and the director of Action Corps, a nationwide organization that campaigns for U.S. policies to save the lives of people affected by climate disasters and violent conflict. He wrote this commentary as an individual selectboard member — the views represent his own.
On Sept. 10, Gov. Phil Scott announced plans to deliver recommendations for how Burlington can tackle the homelessness crisis. Along with his recommendations, he should take responsibility for the problem in a collaborative fashion, not simply telling one municipality what to do.
In August, Scott came to Windham County. On his itinerary were visits to Grafton Village Cheese, Jelly’s Deli in Londonderry, Jamaica State Park and the Vermont EMS Academy in Newfane. Missing was a visit to a local agency that supports people who are unhoused.
The day before Scott’s visit to Windham County, President Donald Trump wrote on social media, “The Homeless have to move out, IMMEDIATELY.” He deployed the National Guard to Washington, D.C. and vowed to forcibly remove unhoused people from our nation’s capital.
This summer, here in Vermont, we have seen our state government remove families with young children and senior citizens with oxygen tanks from motels without a plan for a safe place for these Vermonters to go, let alone even a tent, sleeping bag or place to camp. This has stretched social service agencies beyond capacity, and municipalities have struggled with the fallout.
Since 2020, Vermont’s homeless population has more than tripled in size, the largest increase in any state. A top driver of homelessness here is our housing shortage. A study a few years ago found that my town of Brattleboro, for example, was over 500 housing units short of the need. There’s been important progress, but much more is needed.
On May 30, the Brattleboro Selectboard voted against urging a veto of H.91. With this decision, a majority of our selectboard voted in support of the legislature’s forward-looking proposed solution to move away from the state-run motel program and to regionalize homeless services. In speaking directly with Brattleboro residents across neighborhoods earlier this year, I heard a consistent message: residents want to see adequate shelter for our neighbors experiencing homelessness. This means planning shelter — including non-congregate options — with plenty of lead time, and in collaboration with our municipality, local service providers and people with lived experience.
I was heartbroken on April 1 when many of our vulnerable neighbors lost access to shelter in motels without the provision of even a tent and sleeping bag. That day, I spoke with Mark Caslin, a lifelong Vermonter and military veteran who had recently survived a serious medical event, who was staying at the Econo Lodge by Exit 1 off of I-91. I have not been able to locate him since, and I fear for his well-being.
This happened again on July 1, when 107 children and medically vulnerable adults in Brattleboro were required to leave their motel rooms. That day, I spoke with several of these individuals. Larry Jones was one. Mr. Jones, who has lived in Windham County for 20 years, relies on an oxygen tank, insulin pump, and walker. He told me he was afraid he would die in the woods. This is not an irrational fear, as he requires electricity to survive, and already we know of a death in neighboring Windsor County as a result of people being required to leave the motels because their annual 80 nights of allotted shelter are up.
We are heading into colder months, with freezing weather just around the corner — well before the December 1 start date for the State of Vermont limited cold-weather provisions. For medically vulnerable people and families with children, survival between now and December 1 will be difficult, and harm will be irreparable. Loss of life among unhoused Vermonters has become far too common. Now is the time to prepare. What is the state’s plan for shelter starting now, to ensure people stay alive?
While there may be differences in approach, there is widespread support for the common goal of ensuring no one in our community dies for lack of shelter.
In past instances, the Scott administration has rushed to stand up emergency shelters, including one last year in Brattleboro that no one used and that wasted Vermonters’ taxpayer dollars. Advanced planning with input from local providers could make a world of difference. We have skilled and knowledgeable organizations here in Brattleboro and around the state; these organizations, and others, have the expertise, data and lived experience to guide more effective solutions.
Along with issuing recommendations for Burlington, the governor should retrace his steps from his 14-county tour and this time speak directly with the social service providers, town staff and people with lived homelessness experience, listen to their recommendations and work collaboratively with a humane and effective approach to ensuring all of our safety in these coming colder months.
