(802) 651-8889, 152 Pearl St, Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 651-8889, 152 Pearl St, Burlington, VT 05401
Latest News
Conversation with Candidates
VIA clergy invited our 2024 Gubernatorial candidates to join us for a conversation about issues which matter most in our communities. Listen here to what they had to say.
And don't forget to Vote Your Values on or before Nov. 5th 2024.
Help Turn Out the Vote in 2024
We only have a little over a month until election day. We all know that this election is critical on every level--national, state, and local. So much is on the line for our communities and for our country as a whole. While we only each get ONE vote, we can help others to get their voices heard as well. VIA is working hard to empower as many people as possible to vote--especially our most vulnerable populations who historically are among the least likely to do so.
Whether you take the pledge to vote your values or sign up to register others to vote or join us for the Gubernatorial Conversation with Candidates or head to a neighboring state to canvas, you can register for any of these activities by following this link: bit.ly/VTVotes2024
- Join the Pledge to Vote Your Values.
- Voter Registration Tabling Events will be across the state to register voters. Volunteers are needed in Barre, Bennington, Brattleboro/Putney, Burlington and Montpelier.
- Join a Canvas with one of our sibling federations in either NH or PA. We will join Granite State Organizing Project in Nashua, NH on Sunday, October 20th and POWER in Lancaster and Philadelphia, PA October 19th-20th.
- Become a 100% Voting Congregation - contact the email below for more information.
Let's ensure that ALL of our voices are heard in this election! Questions? Email office@viavt.org and staff will get in touch with you.
Vermonters Need Continuous Shelter
VIA faith leaders are severely disappointed in the FY25 State Budget, which fails to provide the very basic human need of shelter for the most vulnerable among us. In the last year, faith congregations in Central Vermont have assisted an 81-year-old woman living on the steps of a church in Barre; a 72-year-old who, after multiple strokes, was discharged from the hospital into a cab with nowhere to go; a 70-year-old with early dementia without shelter during a state agency appeal process; a wheelchair-dependent person in their twenties sleeping outside; and many others sleeping outside through the winter. All found themselves without shelter because of the inflexible and complex rules set by our state government to limit the provision of shelter to those without housing. Churches and municipal governments cannot be the safety net when our state government policies fail to provide care.
We call on the legislature to enact a moral budget. Provide enough funds to create humane shelter for all. Require the administration to create safe, effective, and humane shelter that preserves the dignity of those without housing. Allocate the funds needed to create enough affordable housing to move people out of homelessness, and fund the financial and human service supports needed for them to remain successfully housed.
This is what a moral government would do.
~Rev. Beth Ann Maier on behalf of the Affordable Housing & Homelessness statewide organizing committee
Updates from Bennington Organizing Action
Exciting news!
The local chapter of Vermont Interfaith Action, Bennington Organizing and Action (BOA), held a Public Action for Severe Weather Preparedness April 14th. The leaders of BOA have been researching shelter options for the Bennington area for the last 8 months. At the public action, they presented their research on the town's Local Emergency Management Plan and made several requests of public officials for improvements to be made to the plan. These requests included changes such as activation of the plan any time there is extreme heat or cold, as well as the identification of a downtown overnight shelter. The focus of the action was on ensuring that the needs of our most vulnerable populations are considered when planning for emergencies.
The research was well-received by the public in attendance and the elected officials present agreed to the majority of the requests.
The following week, the Bennington Select Board included the Local Emergency Management Plan on the agenda as well as the research report presented by BOA. The board ultimately agreed to all of BOA's requests and committed to making sure the changes are made in the next two months.
This was a huge first success for BOA and we're excited to see what comes next!