Vermont Hardship Program: Financial Assistance for Emergencies

Facing a financial crisis can be overwhelming, and finding help should not add to the stress. While there is no single official state program called the "Vermont Hardship Program," the state provides a strong network of assistance programs designed to help residents through difficult times.

These services offer a critical safety net for individuals and families dealing with emergencies related to housing, food, fuel, and other basic needs. The economic reality for many Vermonters is challenging; with 31.3% of the population considered poor or low-income and a severe shortage of affordable housing, these programs are more vital than ever. This resource provides a clear and direct roadmap to understanding and accessing the specific Vermont assistance programs that can provide relief during a period of hardship.

Immediate Crisis Intervention: Emergency/General Assistance (EA/GA)

The Emergency/General Assistance (EA/GA) program is Vermont's front-line response for residents facing an immediate crisis with no other means to resolve it. Administered by the Department for Children and Families (DCF), this program is designed to provide short-term, emergency aid to meet the most basic needs for safety and health.

What It Covers

EA/GA provides direct vendor payments or, in some cases, EBT card benefits to cover a range of critical needs. The goal is to stabilize an emergency situation quickly. Assistance can include:

• Housing: Funds to prevent an imminent eviction, cover a security deposit for a new residence in an emergency, or provide temporary shelter in a motel.
• Fuel & Utilities: Help to prevent disconnection of essential utilities like electricity and heating fuel, or to purchase an emergency supply of fuel.
• Medical Needs: Assistance with costs for emergency medical or dental care, prescription medications, and necessary medical supplies or equipment not covered by other programs.
• Personal Needs: Benefits for certain essential personal or incidental items may be issued on an EBT card.
• Burial Costs: The program can assist with burial or cremation costs for eligible individuals.

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility for EA/GA is intentionally narrow and focused on true emergencies. The fundamental requirements are strictly enforced:

1. You must have a verifiable emergency basic need. This means a situation that threatens your immediate health or safety, such as an eviction notice or a utility shut-off warning.
2. You must not have the income or resources to meet that need. The program is a last resort. Caseworkers will verify that you do not have available resources, defined as cash that can be accessed within 24 hours.

How to Apply (The Critical Steps)

The application process for EA/GA reflects the urgent nature of the assistance and requires direct contact with the DCF Economic Services Division (ESD).

1. Apply In Person: You must visit your local DCF Economic Services Division district office to apply. This ensures caseworkers can assess the emergency directly.
2. Complete an Application: A complete, signed application must be submitted each time assistance is requested.
3. Participate in an Interview: A face-to-face interview with a representative is typically required to discuss your situation.
4. Provide Extensive Documentation: The application process is verification-heavy. To avoid delays, it is essential to be prepared with the necessary documents.

Required Documentation

While every case is different, you should be ready to provide copies of the following:

• Personal Identification: A valid driver's license, birth certificate, or Social Security card.
• Proof of Income: Recent pay stubs, a letter from an employer, or benefit letters from other sources.
• Proof of Resources: Current bank statements for all accounts.
• Proof of Shelter Expenses: A copy of your lease, mortgage statement, or a letter from your landlord.
• Proof of the Emergency: The eviction notice, utility shut-off warning, or other documentation that verifies your crisis.

The requirement for an in-person application and comprehensive documentation can be challenging for an individual already in crisis. Knowing exactly where to go and what to bring is a critical first step in successfully securing aid. A full directory of district office locations is provided in the final section of this resource.

Housing Stability: Resources for Renters and Homeowners

Housing instability is one of the most severe hardships a household can face. In Vermont, where the rental vacancy rate is extremely low and housing costs are high, the loss of a home can be catastrophic. A network of programs exists to prevent homelessness and support homeowners.

Eviction Prevention and Rental Support

For renters facing the loss of their home or struggling to secure new housing, several avenues of support are available.

• Community Action Agencies: These five regional agencies are a primary resource for financial assistance. Through programs like the Housing Opportunity Program Grant (HOP), they may provide grants for back rent, first month's rent, or security deposits. They also offer case management to help families find and maintain stable housing.
• Subsidized Housing: Long-term affordability can be achieved through subsidized housing. This includes "tenant-based" assistance like the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which moves with the tenant, and "site-specific" assistance, where the subsidy is attached to a particular apartment. Applications are managed by the Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) and local housing authorities.
• Legal Assistance: Tenants facing eviction have legal rights. Vermont Legal Aid provides free legal counseling and representation to eligible low-income, elderly, and disabled Vermonters on housing matters.

Emergency Shelter Solutions

For individuals and families who are currently homeless, the immediate priority is finding safe, temporary shelter.

• DCF Emergency Housing Program: This is the state's primary program for providing emergency shelter, often in a hotel or motel. Eligibility is generally limited to households facing a catastrophic situation (like a fire or flood) or households that include a vulnerable member (such as a child, an elderly person, or someone fleeing domestic violence).
• How to Access Shelter: The first step is to call the statewide Emergency Housing Line at 1-800-775-0506. For help after business hours or on weekends,   call 2-1-1.

Support for Homeowners

Homeowners facing financial hardship have different needs, primarily centered on avoiding foreclosure. It is important to note that the Vermont Homeowner Assistance Program (VHAP), a major pandemic-era relief program, is now closed and no longer accepting applications.

Current resources for homeowners include:

• Foreclosure Counseling: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies offer free guidance to homeowners at risk of foreclosure. Counselors can help you understand your options and communicate with your lender.
• Home Repair Assistance: Several programs help low-income homeowners with essential repairs.
• USDA Rural Development Section 504 Program: This provides low-interest loans and grants to very-low-income homeowners in eligible rural areas to repair or modernize their homes. Grants are available to homeowners aged 62 or older who cannot repay a loan.
• Healthy Homes Programs: The Vermont Department of Health and other agencies offer financial assistance to fix environmental health hazards like lead paint, radon, or failing septic systems.

Essential Utilities: Fuel and Energy Assistance

In a state with cold winters, maintaining heat and electricity is a matter of health and safety. Utility assistance is a critical form of hardship relief, but the system for accessing aid can be confusing as different programs are run by different agencies.

Home Heating Support (Fuel Assistance)

• Seasonal Fuel Assistance: Also known as LIHEAP, this program helps eligible households pay a portion of their home heating bills during the winter season (November-April). Eligibility is based on household income (at or below 185% of the federal poverty level). Applications are submitted to the   DCF Economic Services Division.
• Crisis Fuel Assistance: This program is for heating emergencies, such as being almost out of fuel. It operates from late November through mid-April. Unlike the seasonal program, applications for Crisis Fuel must be made through your   local Community Action Agency.

Electricity and Gas Bill Relief

• Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Income-eligible customers of Green Mountain Power and Vermont Gas can receive a monthly discount on their bills (25% and 20% respectively). Eligibility is set at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, and applications are processed by the   DCF Economic Services Division.

Long-Term Cost Reduction through Weatherization

• Weatherization Assistance Program: This program offers a powerful, long-term solution by providing free home energy efficiency improvements to income-eligible homeowners and renters. Services can include adding insulation, sealing air leaks, and repairing heating systems, with an average of $10,000 worth of improvements per home.
• Eligibility and Application: Eligibility is tied to household income or is automatic if a household member receives certain other benefits like Fuel Assistance or Reach Up. Applications are managed by the five regional   Community Action Agencies, not DCF.

Food and Nutrition Security

Financial hardship and food insecurity are deeply intertwined. Vermont has robust programs designed to ensure residents have consistent access to healthy food.

3SquaresVT (SNAP)

• What It Is: 3SquaresVT is Vermont's name for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The program provides monthly funds on an EBT card to purchase groceries at stores and many farmers markets.
• Eligibility: Eligibility is primarily based on gross monthly income and household size. Many working families, seniors, and people with disabilities qualify.
• Application Process: The process involves two main steps:
  1. Submit an Application: You can apply online, request a paper application by mail, or apply in person at a DCF district office.
  2. Complete an Interview: After applying, a required interview must be completed by calling the ESD interview line (1-877-403-7668) or visiting a district office.

Specialized Nutrition Support (WIC)

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides specific support to a vulnerable population. The program offers free healthy food, nutrition education, and breastfeeding support to income-eligible pregnant and postpartum individuals, as well as infants and children up to age 5. WIC is managed by the Vermont Department of Health.

Comprehensive Support for Families (Reach Up)

For families with children facing financial hardship, the Reach Up program offers a holistic approach that combines cash assistance with robust support services. As Vermont's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, its mission is to help parents gain the stability needed to support their children. 

What It Provides

Reach Up is a partnership with a case manager to help families achieve their goals. The program provides:

• Monthly Cash Assistance: A monthly payment to help cover basic necessities.
• Support Services: Case managers connect families with services to support work and well-being, including:
• Job skills training and employment support.
• Help with childcare and transportation.
• Assistance with accessing health insurance.
• Support for pursuing education.

Who Is Eligible

Eligibility for Reach Up is determined by a comprehensive assessment of a family's situation, including:

• Household Income and Living Expenses: The program considers both income and essential costs.
• Resources (Assets): The asset limit is $9,000, but the value of one vehicle per adult and certain savings are not counted.
• Family Composition: The household must include a minor child.

How to Apply

The application process is similar to other DCF-administered benefits. Families can apply in one of three ways:

• Online: Through the state's My Benefits portal.
• By Mail: By calling the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151 to request a paper application.
• In Person: At any local DCF district office.

An interview is required to complete the application process. Participation in Reach Up often serves as a gateway to other critical benefits, such as free weatherization and Child Care Financial Assistance.

Your Local Connection: Community Action Agencies

While many state benefits are managed by DCF, a significant amount of on-the-ground support is delivered by Vermont's five regional non-profit Community Action Agencies. These agencies are essential partners in the state's social safety net.

Key Services Administered

Community Action Agencies are the designated providers for several critical hardship programs, including:  

• Crisis Fuel Assistance
• Weatherization Assistance Program
• Housing Assistance (grants for back rent and security deposits)
• Food Shelves
• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)

Directory of Agencies by Region

It is vital to contact the agency that serves your specific county.

• Capstone Community Action (Central Vermont): Lamoille, Orange, and Washington Counties. (802) 479-1053
• Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO): Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties. See county-specific numbers below.
• Northeast Kingdom Community Action (NEKCA): Caledonia, Essex, and Orleans Counties. (802) 334-7316
• Southeastern Vermont Community Action (SEVCA): Windham and Windsor Counties. (802) 722-4575
• Bennington-Rutland Opportunity Council (BROC): Bennington and Rutland Counties. (802) 775-0878

Vermont Assistance Program Directory

This directory consolidates the most important statewide contact numbers and provides a detailed list of the DCF district offices where you can apply for emergency assistance and other benefits.

Master Contact List

• Benefits Service Center (DCF programs): 1-800-479-6151
• Emergency Housing Line (Shelter): 1-800-775-0506
• General Information & Referral: Call 2-1-1
• Vermont Legal Aid (Evictions, Benefits Denials): 1-800-889-2047

Vermont DCF District Offices Directory

Emergency/General Assistance requires an in-person application at the correct district office. Offices are open Monday through Friday, 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM.

Frequently Asked Questions