H 893

 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.893
 2026  Page 1 of 2
1H.893
2SHORT FORM
3 Introduced by Representative Boutin of Barre City
4 Referred to Committee on
5 Date:
6 Subject: Human services; general assistance; emergency housing; municipal
7government; municipal services; appropriation
8 Statement of purpose of bill as introduced: This bill proposes to create a
9 municipal emergency shelter program that authorizes municipalities to offer
10 emergency shelter, provided that the shelter meets all requirements for disaster
11 or emergency response housing. This bill also proposes to reimburse
12 municipalities for the actual cost of the shelter, for municipal services to
13 individuals participating in the program, and for any additional staff needed to
14 operate the program. This bill proposes to appropriate monies in fiscal year
15 2027 to the Department for Children and Families for purposes of the
16 municipal emergency shelter program. This bill also proposes to appropriate
17 $1,000,000.00 from the PILOT Special Fund to the Department for Children
18 and Families to provide pro rata reimbursement to municipalities for public
19 safety, fire, mental health, and emergency or other medical services for
20 individuals transitioned into the municipal emergency housing program. This
21 bill proposes to require the Department for Children and Families, on January
                                                                     VT LEG #386788 v.1
 BILL AS INTRODUCED  H.893
 2026  Page 2 of 2
1 15, 2027, to expend any unexpended fiscal year 2027 emergency shelter
2 program funds on grants to flood-prone and -impacted communities for
3 purposes of improving existing housing to be flood-resilient and developing
4 entry-level family housing. This bill also proposes to define “entry-level
5 family housing” to mean residential housing between 400 to 1,000 square feet
6 in size with not more than two bedrooms, which is designed to accommodate
7 expansion as needed by the residents.
8    An act relating to creating the municipal emergency shelter program and
9    reimbursing municipal corporations for costs associated with emergency
10    housing programs
11 It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:
12(TEXT OMITTED IN SHORT-FORM BILLS)
                                                                  VT LEG #386788 v.1