Advocates hold homeless awareness day at Vermont Statehouse

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Advocates were holding a homelessness awareness day and memorial vigil in Montpelier on Wednesday.

Concerned citizens and homeless service providers were expected to gather at the Statehouse to talk with lawmakers and “renew their commitment to end homelessness” in Vermont.

According to a one-day count, 1,089 Vermonters were found to be homeless on a single night in January of 2019, service provider said. That was a 15% drop from a one-day count in 2018, but “homelessness is still a major challenge for Vermonters, especially because 23% of those counted were children," organizers of the event said.

A vigil was planned at noon on the Statehouse steps, where legislative leaders and Lt. Gov, David Zuckerman, who just announced that he's running for governor, were expected to speak.

Wednesday's activities were sponsored by the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, and Vermont Affordable Housing Coalition.