Vermont officials say the state's effort to cut back on its motel voucher program extended to homeless residents is having success.
Vermont Public Radio reports (http://bit.ly/2aVLOSj ) the state spent approximately $3 million on emergency housing in the fiscal year 2016. That figure is more than $1 million less than Vermont spent the prior year.
Officials are attributing the success to the state's shift in philosophy from investing in motels to supporting more community-run shelters.
Sean Brown, the Department of Children and Families' deputy commissioner, says new alternatives are helping to serve residents in a better model all while keeping the state within budget constraints.
Brown says Vermont will have $1.5 million to expand its community-based alternatives program into new areas this year.
