![]() ![]() Most renters must pay some or all of their utility bills directly each month in addition to paying their rent. Each month, more leases will turn over and more renters will see their monthly expenses rise sharply as a result. But higher market rents generally don’t affect current tenants until their leases come up for renewal (although this would not delay increases for tenants renting units on a month-to-month basis). That’s mainly because the CPI uses an average of rents paid by renters in a survey sample whether or not they recently leased their unit. This surge isn’t fully reflected yet in Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation data, which show rents rising by 4.2 percent in the 12 months through February 2022. By February 2022 rents for newly leased units were 17 percent higher than a year earlier, according to one national rent index, with even larger increases reported in some cities. Rents have long been higher than many people can afford, but rent increases accelerated sharply beginning in the summer of 2021 as the supply of available units tightened. Due to insufficient funding, however, vouchers and other federal rental assistance currently only reach about 1 in 4 households who qualify for assistance. ![]() The voucher program is highly effective at helping people with low incomes afford housing and is the federal housing program best suited to deliver large-scale assistance to renters during the current cost surge. These higher costs add urgency to proposals to provide more Housing Choice Vouchers. Rent and utility prices have risen sharply in recent months, adding to the difficulties many low-income people face paying their bills and keeping a roof over their heads. BED’s Energy Assistance Program offers assistance to income-qualified customers in the form of a monthly bill credit of 12.5 percent, and customers can learn more at. GMP customers with past due balances can apply through the Department for Children and Families at. GMP and BED also have ongoing Energy Assistance Programs (EAP) for qualified low-income customers. A program for homeowners, the Vermont Homeowners Assistance Program ( ) currently remains open. Any customer needing help should reach out as soon as possible to access available assistance. Vermont electric utilities have been working proactively to help customers throughout the pandemic. Vermont Electric Co-Op, - Washington Electric Co-Op, - Burlington Electric Department, - Green Mountain Power, - Stowe Electric, - Customers of Barton Electric Department, Enosburg Falls Electric Department, Hardwick Electric Department, Jacksonville Electric Company, Johnson Water & Light Department, Ludlow Electric Light Department, Lyndonville Electric Department, Morrisville Water & Light, Northfield Electric Department, Orleans Electric Department, and Swanton Village Electric can visit utility contact information. Contact information is available at each of the utilities’ websites: Any customer should also reach out to their utility directly to set up a payment plan. Rental customers who have past due balances and have not already applied are encouraged to apply right now through VERAP at or 83. In addition, on October 1, 2022, assistance will be reduced from 100% to 70% for all VERAP participants including existing renters and new applicants. The state has announced the last day to apply for assistance through VERAP is currently set for December 31, 2022, and any eligible amounts will only be covered for bills through the end of the year. This federal grant program has been critical to directly helping renters get through the lingering impacts of the pandemic. Eligible renters who have not yet taken action need to apply now if they are struggling to pay existing and past bills due to the COVID-19 pandemic. – Vermont electric utilities are alerting renters who are already receiving help through the Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP) that their payments will be reduced as of October 1, 2022, and no payments will be available past December 31, 2022. ![]() Grant Funding Ends December 31, 2022, With Renter Assistance Payment Amounts Cut as of October 1 Vermont Utilities Alerting Renters that COVID-19 Utility Bill Assistance is Ending and to Apply Now ![]()
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