This letter is signed by Drew and Matthew Stickney, Heidi Heger, Jeff Edson, and Michael Inman.
BRATTLEBORO-As residents of the motel voucher program, we, the undersigned, wish to draw readers' attention to the imminent expiration of Vermont's emergency housing program.
Since the number of days was capped at 80 on July 1, the clock has been ticking for approximately 300 households in the Brattleboro area. Those limits will occur in the coming weeks, meaning many more people will be on our streets as the weather starts to turn.
Homelessness has many parents. While the issue will not be solved overnight, you can take action to help your community.
First, sign the petition to establish legal camping grounds for people experiencing homelessness in Brattleboro. Following a recent Supreme Court decision, the homeless are left, in the words of Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, with "an impossible choice: Either stay awake or be arrested."
This petition asks local elected officials to protect everyone in our community from such cruel and unusual punishment.
Second, donate a tent. For every tent donated, Health Care and Rehabilitative Services, Inc. (HCRS) will match your donation. Please donate at hcrs.org.
Legal camping grounds provide a temporary solution, mitigating risks that come from living on the streets. These grounds can also serve as locations for the delivery of much-needed services such as health care, food supplies, and aid in finding more-permanent housing solutions.
The dire circumstances faced by the homeless community are admittedly difficult for many to imagine. But by providing safe camping grounds, we can make a real difference in hundreds of lives.
Stickney et al.
Brattleboro
This letter is signed by Drew and Matthew Stickney, Heidi Heger, Jeff Edson, and Michael Inman.
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