Via Community News Service, a University of Vermont internship, for the White River Valley Herald
RANDOLPH — With the arrival of spring, extreme cold nights no longer pose a threat to people experiencing homelessness. Despite these warmer conditions, providing shelter still remains a challenge in the White River Valley as local agencies feel the effects of funding restrictions.
Last month, the Trump administration released its 2027 budget proposal, which includes the elimination of the Community Services Block Grant and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. These are programs that help fund organizations like Capstone Community Action, which provides assistance to Central Vermont residents in need.
The Capstone office in downtown Randolph helps connect people with financial support and local resources such as shelters and food shelves. According to the agency, 67% of Capstone’s funding comes from government programs. The cuts proposed by the Trump administration would be a major cutback to the aid Capstone can provide.
“We’re really trying to sustain right now,” said Linda Anderson, director of family and community support services at Capstone. “There’s certainly not more money coming down the pipeline for our programs.”
The federal government’s 2026 budget proposal contained similar cuts. Congress did not enact those cuts, but local agencies are still facing financial challenges.
On June 30, the Clara Martin Center will close its residential facility in Randolph. The site at 4 Highland Avenue currently houses the Safe Haven residential shelter, which has six beds for people who are experiencing homelessness and have a mental health or substance use diagnosis. It also houses the Chris’s Place crisis bed program, which offers adults accessing intensive mental health support an alternative to hospitalization.
According to the Clara Martin Center, the programs are no longer financially viable. Changes in eligibility requirements for Medicaid and Medicare services brought down the number of people who utilized the programs in Randolph, according to the Center, which contributed to financial challenges.
“We have been faced with taking this necessary step to maintain the ongoing financial viability of our core programming,” said Melanie Gidney, executive director of Clara Martin Center, in a press release.
Casey Reibolt, housing counselor at Capstone’s Randolph office, said she has already received calls from Clara Martin residents worried about where they will go.
“There’s not enough housing and so much need,” Reibolt said. “I’ve been really, really blessed to be as successful with finding places for people as I have.”
Other than working with Clara Martin to help provide shelter, Capstone also works with nearby churches to provide a space for people experiencing homelessness. St. John’s Episcopal Church and Bethany United Church of Christ are two churches in Randolph that work overtime in winter to provide a warm space for people to stay.
With Clara Martin closing its doors, Capstone is searching for new locations to host a shelter for people who need a bed. St. Anthony Church, The United Church of Bethel, and The Faith Assembly of God have all expressed interest in opening up their doors for those in need, according to Reibolt.
Alison Calderara, the executive director of Capstone, feels hopeful for the future of Capstone during these uncertain financial times.
“I think the president demonstrated his intent that these were not programs that he supported,” Calderara said. “However, we feel much more confident in Congress and this bipartisan support has not wavered. We believe that we will be funded.”
Calderara believes in the power of advocacy to help keep these programs afloat through the uncertainty of future funding.
“The battle continues,” she said.