Montpelier, Vermont - June 7, 2011
Advocates for Vermont's homeless gathered at the capital Tuesday to tackle a growing problem in the state.
The group included state officials, shelter workers, builders and other supporters.
They looked at how to increase the amount of permanent housing and how to better make use of existing state subsidies.
The group says there's been a substantial increase in the need for housing assistance, especially for families.
"When you look at the population sometimes in the streets-- the guys holding the signs-- a lot of people think that's just the homeless population, but really the majority of the homeless population are people who look just like you and me. They're the working poor, they're families, women. They're has been a significant increase in the number of families and women," said Linda Ryan of the Samaritan House in St. Albans.
Despite a closure of the waiting list for section 8 housing, Ryan says shelters recently worked out a tentative agreement with the Vermont State Housing Authority to give families who successfully complete a transition program a chance to qualify for Section 8 vouchers.
Alexei Rubenstein - WCAX News
