Where Vermont's Rental information Comes From

Vermont has two main sources of rental help: the Vermont Rental information Program, run by the Department for Children and Families, and local emergency funds managed by individual towns and nonprofits. The state program is the larger one — it covers back rent, forward rent, and some utilities — but it is not always open. When the state fund closes, local programs often stay active, though they tend to have smaller amounts per household.

The state program pays landlords directly whenever possible. If your landlord will not accept payment, some local programs will pay you instead, but only after you document the refusal. Most programs require you to have a signed lease and proof that your hardship is recent — usually within the last 30 to 90 days.

Vermont also runs a separate Utility information Program for heat, electricity, and water bills, which operates on a different timeline and has its own income limits. The two programs do not overlap, so you can pursue both at the same time.

Key Takeaways

  • The Vermont Rental information Program is administered by the Department for Children and Families and pays landlords directly, but it closes when funds run out and reopens later in the year.
  • Local town and nonprofit programs exist in most Vermont communities and often stay open longer than the state program, though they cover smaller amounts.
  • You will need a signed lease, proof of income, and documentation of your recent hardship before you contact any program.
  • Calling 211 Vermont or your town's community action agency is the fastest way to find out which programs are currently accepting new requests in your area.
  • The state program typically takes four to eight weeks to process, so inform your landlord you have submitted a request and ask them to pause eviction proceedings if they have begun.

Income Limits and Household Size Rules

Vermont's state rental information program uses area median income thresholds that vary by county. Most programs cap information at households earning 80 percent of the area median income for your county, though some local programs are stricter. A single person in Chittenden County (which includes Burlington) faces a different limit than a single person in Orleans County, so you must check your specific county.

Household composition is counted the way it is for most housing programs: anyone living with you and sharing expenses counts, including children, partners, parents, and roommates who split rent. If you are explore as a couple but only one person's name is on the lease, both incomes still count toward the limit. Guests or people who stay temporarily do not count.

Income includes wages, self-employment earnings, unemployment benefits, Social Security, disability payments, child support, and any other regular money coming in. One-time payments like tax refunds or insurance settlements do not count. If your income varies month to month, programs typically average the last three months or use your most recent month — ask the program which method they use.

What Documents You Need to Bring

Start by gathering these before you contact a program: your signed lease, proof of your current address, a photo ID, and documentation of your income for the last 30 days (pay stubs, bank statements, or a letter from your employer). If you are self-employed, bring tax returns from the last two years and recent bank statements showing business deposits.

Next, collect proof of the hardship: an eviction notice if one has been filed, a letter from your landlord stating you owe back rent, or utility shutoff notices. If you lost income due to illness or job loss, bring documentation of that — a termination letter, a medical record, or an unemployment benefits statement. Programs want to see that the hardship is recent, so documents dated within the last 90 days carry more weight.

Finally, have your landlord's contact information ready: their name, phone number, mailing address, and the property address. Some programs will contact them directly; others will ask you to provide a signed authorization form. If your landlord is a property management company, get the company's name and the name of the person who handles rent collection.

How to Find and Contact the Right Program

Call 211 Vermont first. This is a free referral line run by United Way, and the staff know which rental information programs are currently open in your town. They can tell you in one call whether the state program is accepting new requests, which local programs are active, and what each one requires. The number is 2-1-1 or 1-800-928-1234.

If you want to reach the state program directly, contact the Department for Children and Families, Economic Services Division. Their website lists the current status of the rental information fund and the process process. When the fund is open, you can submit a request online or by mail; when it is closed, the website will say so clearly.

For local programs, call your town's community action agency or municipal office. Most towns have a community action agency that handles emergency information — they know the local landscape and can tell you which nonprofits are currently distributing funds. If your town does not have a community action agency, the town clerk's office can point you to the right person.

What Disqualifies You and What Does Not

Income above your county's threshold will disqualify you. Owning a home or other property does not automatically disqualify you if you are renting the place you live in, but some programs ask about assets. Having a criminal record does not disqualify you. Being undocumented does not disqualify you — Vermont's program does not require proof of citizenship or immigration status.

Owing back rent to a previous landlord does not disqualify you from help with your current rent. Being behind on utilities does not disqualify you from rental information, though you may want to pursue the separate Utility information Program for those bills. Having an eviction notice filed against you does not disqualify you; in fact, it often moves your request up the queue.

What does disqualify you: income above the limit, not having a signed lease, or not being able to document a recent hardship. Some programs also require that you have lived in Vermont for a certain period — usually 30 to 90 days — so ask about residency requirements when you call.

Timeline and What Happens After You Submit

Once you submit your request, the program will contact you within a few business days to confirm they received it and to ask follow-up questions. They will also reach out to your landlord to verify the debt and get their banking information. This verification step usually takes one to two weeks.

After verification, the program reviews your income and hardship documentation. If everything is in order, they issue payment to your landlord. The entire process typically takes four to eight weeks, though it can be faster if your landlord responds quickly and your documents are complete. Some programs prioritize cases with active eviction notices, which can shorten the timeline to two to three weeks.

Tell your landlord when ready that you have submitted a request. Ask them to hold off on filing an eviction or to pause proceedings if they have already filed. Many landlords will wait once they know a program is processing your case. If your landlord has already filed, bring the court notice to the program — they can sometimes contact the court to request a continuance while your case is being reviewed.

When the State Program Is Closed and Local Options

The Vermont Rental information Program runs out of money several times a year and closes to new requests. When this happens, the Department for Children and Families website will display a notice saying the fund is closed. You can still call 211 to find local programs that may be open, or you can check with your town's community action agency directly.

Local programs vary widely in how much they can give and what they cover. Some cover only back rent; others cover forward rent and utilities too. Some have income limits lower than the state program; others are more flexible. A few towns have their own municipal emergency funds. The only way to know what is available in your area is to call your community action agency or 211.

If no programs are open when you need help, ask your landlord about a payment plan. Many landlords will negotiate a schedule rather than file for eviction. You can also contact a legal aid organization — Vermont Legal Aid offers free help to low-income tenants and can sometimes negotiate with landlords or help you understand your rights if an eviction has been filed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get rental information if I am behind on utilities too?

Yes, but through a separate program. The Vermont Utility information Program covers heat, electricity, water, and sewer bills. You can pursue both the rental information and utility information programs at the same time — they do not compete for the same funds. Call 211 to find out when the utility program is open in your area.

What if my landlord is out of state or hard to reach?

Tell the program this when you explore. They will make multiple attempts to contact your landlord by phone and mail. If the landlord does not respond after a set period, some programs will pay you directly instead, though you may have to sign an agreement to pay the landlord yourself or to use the money only for rent. Ask the program what their policy is.

Do I have to be a Vermont resident to get help?

Most programs require you to have lived in Vermont for 30 to 90 days and to be renting your primary residence. If you just moved to Vermont, ask the program whether you meet their residency requirement. Some programs are stricter than others.

Can I get rental information if I have already been evicted?

No. Programs cover rent owed while you were living in the unit. Once you have been evicted and moved out, the debt is considered resolved in the eyes of most programs. If an eviction is pending, explore when ready — programs prioritize active cases.

What if the program denies my request?

Ask the program in writing why you were denied. Common reasons are income above the limit, no signed lease, or hardship that occurred more than 90 days ago. Some programs allow you to reapply if your circumstances change. If you disagree with the decision, ask whether there is an appeal process.