As Americans go hungry, an innovative free-meal program is running out of money and time By Aimee Picchi Food partnerships help families in need
A table set up in the lobby of a children s science museum in Burlington, Vermont, was running low on free meals after giving away almost 200 of the packaged lunches. As the last patron wandered in from the frigid weather and took one of the meals a winter salad with tahini sauce prepared by a local restaurant organizer Brittany Sperber told him, We re here for the next two weeks.
After that, it s unclear whether more meals will be provided through the program, an innovative service called Vermont Everyone Eats that was funded with $6 million from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Although hunger in Vermont and across the U.S. is surging during the coronavirus pandemic, the program s funding will expire on December 30, when any unused funds must be returned to the federal governmen
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BRATTLEBORO â After months of debate and discussion, the Select Board approved amending an ordinance to limit what landlords can initially charge tenants to one monthâs rent and a security deposit not to exceed the same amount.
Tuesdayâs 3-2 vote did not come as a surprise. Select Board Chairman Tim Wessel and Vice Chairwoman Elizabeth McLoughlin have opposed the proposal from the Tenants Union of Brattleboro on the grounds that it would discourage efforts to bring more rental units on the market.
âThere are better tools to address these barriers of entry,â Wessel said at the board meeting held remotely Tuesday, where there was talk of possibly partnering with Southeastern Vermont Community Action to establish a landlord risk mitigation fund similar to existing programs and an announcement that the town will receive grant funding for a consultant to conduct a study on housing needs in the community.
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MONTPELIER â The Legislative Joint Fiscal Committee has approved revised administration proposals for reallocating CARES Act funds, including $11.5 million in economic aid to businesses.
Time is of the essence for the committee and the administration, since CARES Act COVID-19 relief money reverts back to the federal government if itâs not spent by the end of the month. The committee, as if taking a cue from that sense of urgency, allocated the funds and adjourned Tuesday morning in about half an hour.
The $11.5 million, pared back from a larger grant proposal of $13 million, is intended for small businesses that did not qualify for a previous round of CARES Act funding focused on the food and hospitality industries.
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BRATTLEBORO â As the Select Board prepares for what could be the final hearing to begin regulating upfront rental housing costs, town staff researched other ways to help tenants and landlords.
Planning Director Sue Fillion looked into whether a local nonprofit would be willing to take on a program for landlords concerned about risk of property damage, nonpayment of rent or eviction.
âSEVCA has indicated that they would be willing to explore a partnership with the town for a risk mitigation program,â she wrote in a memo, referring to Southeastern Vermont Community Action.