Decisions by two different branches of state government impact the housing of the homeless in hotels

Decisions by two different branches of state government impact the housing of the homeless in hotels. The executive branch is moving to end the process while the legislative made it illegal for a town to prohibit it from happening. Through the passage of S. 100 last week, the Legislature decided “No bylaw shall have the effect of prohibiting or penalizing a hotel from renting rooms to provide housing assistance through the State of Vermont’s General Assistance program, or to any person whose room is rented with public funds.” A bylaw in St. Johnsbury led the town last summer to issue a notice of zoning violation to the Fairbanks Inn.