Governor Scott recently announced continued support for Vermonters who are medically fragile and experiencing homelessness. At first glance, this sounded like good news. But when we look at how the Agency of Human Services (AHS) is implementing it, the reality is deeply concerning—and potentially discriminatory.
Here’s what’s really happening:
If you’re enrolled in Vermont’s Choices for Care program, AHS says you no longer qualify for emergency housing under the “medically vulnerable” category. Why? Because they say you already qualify for nursing home care—and should go there instead.
That means if you’re a person with a disability who has chosen to receive care at home or in your community, you’re being told: go to a nursing home, or go without shelter.
This is not just wrong—it violates the basic civil rights of people with disabilities.
What’s Wrong with This Policy?
The Choices for Care program was designed to support Vermonters who need long-term care—but with a critical promise: that they can receive services in the setting of their choice, including in their own home or a motel.
But under this new policy:
The requirements become very narrow for eligibility.
If you decline a nursing home placement—even if it’s far from your community or doesn’t meet your needs—you’re denied housing.
If you’re referred to a facility you know isn’t a fit, and you say no—you’re denied housing.
If a nursing home refuses to take you, only then might you qualify for emergency housing.
This turns the promise of Choices for Care on its head. It’s not a choice if your only option is institutionalization.
This Violates the Law
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Olmstead Supreme Court decision, states are required to serve people with disabilities in the most integrated, least restrictive setting appropriate to their needs.
Warehousing people in nursing homes—just because they are medically vulnerable and poor—violates their rights and our shared values of dignity, inclusion, and self-determination.
We Must Do Better
We know some people may think: “Isn’t a nursing home better than a motel?” But people with disabilities deserve more than a roof over their heads—they deserve agency, autonomy, and access to their communities. Nursing homes are not just a place to sleep—they are institutions with strict routines, limited freedoms, and long-term consequences for mental and physical health.
This isn’t just bad policy—it’s a dangerous precedent. We are sliding backwards into a system that warehouses people with disabilities, instead of investing in accessible, affordable housing and real community supports
Our Call to Action
To Governor Scott, the Legislature, and AHS leadership:
Reverse this policy now.
Ensure Choices for Care truly offers choice.
Uphold the rights of people with disabilities to live in the community.
Invest in housing solutions that meet people where they are—not ones that push them out of sight.
To fellow advocates:
Raise your voice. Share your stories. Demand better.
This is not just about housing—this is about justice.
Vermonters with disabilities deserve dignity. We deserve choice. We deserve more than a nursing home bed and a muzzled voice.