When rent falls behind, it’s easy for both sides to feel stuck. A tenant facing a hardship doesn’t want to lose their home, and a landlord who’s counting on that rent to cover a mortgage or a repair doesn’t want to be put in the position of having to choose between their own finances and someone else’s housing. The good news is that Vermont has real resources for both sides of this situation, and knowing about them before things escalate to eviction can make a real difference.
For Landlords
Vermont Landlord Rental Relief: landlordrelief.vsha.org
If you’re a landlord dealing with unpaid rent, this is the first place to check. It’s a resource through the Vermont State Housing Authority built specifically to help landlords understand what rental assistance options exist and how to pursue them, whether that means guiding a tenant toward the right program or applying for relief connected to a specific unit. Before jumping straight to a termination notice, it’s worth a look, both because it may resolve the situation faster than a legal process would, and because it gives the tenant a real shot at catching up instead of just falling further behind.
For Tenants
The HOP Grant, Through Your Local Community Action Agency
If you’re a tenant behind on rent, the HOP grant is one of the main resources available for covering back rent. You’ll apply through your local Community Action Agency, and there are a few things you’ll need to have ready:
- A termination of tenancy letter. This is the formal notice showing you’re at risk of losing your housing. It’s a required part of demonstrating the urgency of the situation.
- Proof of income. You’ll need to show that if you received help catching up on back rent, you’d actually be able to keep up with rent going forward. The grant is designed to get you back on stable footing, not just cover a single missed month with no path forward.
- Proof of hardship. This means documentation of what caused you to fall behind in the first place, things like a job loss, a gap while waiting to start a new job, a serious illness, or a death in the family. The goal is to show that the situation was a real hardship, not an ongoing pattern.
Faith-Based Organizations in Chittenden County
If you’re a tenant in Chittenden County, several faith-based organizations also offer assistance with rent arrears. As with the HOP grant, you’ll likely need a termination of tenancy letter to apply. Reach out directly to whichever organization is the best fit:
- VT Catholic Charities: 802-658-6111
- Salvation Army: 802-864-6991
- Joseph’s House: 802-951-4290
- JUMP: 802-862-4501
- Milton Family Community Center: 802-893-1457
- St. Ann Parish: 802-893-2487
- Essex Alliance: 802-878-8213
Why This Matters to Us
We’d genuinely rather see a tenant catch up on rent through one of these resources than watch a situation slide toward eviction. An eviction is expensive and disruptive for a landlord, and it’s often devastating for a tenant, and in a lot of cases, it’s avoidable if both sides know these options exist and act on them early. If you’re a tenant in this situation, don’t wait until the last possible moment to reach out, to us, to a Community Action Agency, or to one of these organizations. And if you’re a landlord, we’d encourage you to point tenants toward these resources before defaulting to the eviction process. Everyone comes out better when rent actually gets paid, rather than when a unit sits vacant and a tenant loses their housing.
If you’re navigating a rent hardship situation, either as a tenant or a landlord, and aren’t sure where to start, reach out. We’re happy to point you in the right direction.