Vermont has the fourth-highest rate of unhoused people per capita, at a rate of over 55 people per 100,000 people. This is two times the national average, with the state currently being short 36,000 affordable housing units. In communities like Middlebury, people are often shielded from this reality; however, some community members are forced to contend with unstable housing situations.
In Vermont, systemic and structural barriers prevent some residents from obtaining secure housing. Average hourly wages in Vermont are lower than in other New England states, and the state’s rural geography poses challenges in accessing services and resources. Together, these factors can prevent those facing income constraints from accessing healthcare or other basic service needs. Additionally, weather events such as extreme temperatures and the 2023 flooding, further upend housing security, which is often linked to other forms of economic hardship, such as food insecurity and limited access to essential health services.
Addison County-based organization Green Mountain Justice (GMJ) centers their efforts around the humanity of those living on the margins through care, connection, and collaboration. They carry out this mission through their Neighbor Care Neighbors Network, curating a network of community outreach and support for the county and the broader Vermont area. GMJ hopes to expand this network and model of care to other counties in Vermont, furthering their reach and message.
“Our mission is to raise the voices and the narratives of our marginalized neighbors. We focus on the needs of the marginalized neighbors and we work around the values of Unitarian Universalism. So the values of interdependence, justice, equity, generosity, pluralism, and transformation”, Tom Morgan, founder of Green Mountain Justice, said in an interview with the Campus.
Currently, many housing policies which, if enacted, would pose significant challenges for those facing housing insecurity, are being considered by the Vermont legislature. For example, Bill H. 772 would remove tenants’ right to a jury trial in eviction cases, allow a landlord to evict a tenant who protested changes to a current lease, and reduce, and sometimes eliminate, the required notice period before the tenant’s termination date. Additionally, within the same bill, the eviction process would be reduced from 21 days to five days, drastically increasing evictions in the state.
Vermont is in a unique position as the seventh coldest state in the country. As climate change intensifies, warmer polar temperatures push frigid air towards the Northern states, intensifying cold snaps in Vermont. Vermont’s Cold Weather Shelter Program, which is designed to support community-based emergency shelter operations, requires shelters to open their doors only when temperatures are forecast to be at or below -10 degrees Fahrenheit. As Vermont's winters become more intense, people facing housing insecurity will be at greater risk from these adverse weather conditions.
Extreme weather events are not limited to cold snaps. Exacerbated by climate change, summers are becoming warmer, and rivers are flooding more frequently. People experiencing housing insecurity lack access to refuge spaces from the heat or rain, facing significant health risks.
The Neighbor Care Neighbor Network is rewarding work that challenges beliefs and stigmas and creates lasting relationships amongst its volunteers.
Morgan reflected on his personal experience being involved with GMJ. This outreach process has had a lasting impact on both those who conduct it and those who receive support.
“The most meaningful part of this work is the personal relationships that you develop with people – we have been so fortunate in Green Mountain Justice to have established some amazing relationships and stay with those relationships and really journey with people,” Morgan said.
For Morgan and other members of GMJ, the relationships formed with community members are the most important work to bridge the gap between underserved members of our Vermont community and those who are more privileged.
As one of the first members of the Neighbor Care Network, he recognizes the importance of showing up for others and the power of listening to other people’s stories.
It takes courage and intention to create these connections. GMJ calls upon the Middlebury community to act. Setty Provencher, a local community member, advises community members to “just show up, you know, say hi, but just listen and observe and … connect the dots.”
Gordon Gibson, one of GMJ’s board members, describes his work connecting with neighbors as some of the most challenging yet rewarding he has ever done. He has learned to be patient and compassionate, standing by neighbors in some of their most pressing times of need.
“It's not a service-based response to need. It's more of a relationship-based approach to stand with individuals in their time of extreme distress and help them connect and establish meaningful relationships,” Gibson said.
College students, professors, and citizens can be present in their community and connect with local community members by getting involved with GMJ.
“Be brave enough to discuss these challenging conversations around marginalization and injustice. Justice starts in our community, and it starts with simple actions. Reach out to Green Mountain Justice if you are interested in becoming a Neighbor Care Neighbor volunteer to form meaningful connections with members of our community and create real change,” Morgan said.
