MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Vermont’s growing homeless population continues to be a challenge for municipalities, including creating division among some Montpelier residents over encampments in undesignated locations.
Derek Malbroux lives in the woods off of Country Club Road in Montpelier, just next to the former Elks Club shelter that housed about 80 people last winter but that closed in the spring.
“We are not hurting anyone. Nobody is being hurt out here,” Malbroux said. He says he moved to Vermont after hearing that the state provided resources. “As we were panhandling, we heard about the motel vouchers in Vermont.”
Malbroux says he was kicked out of the motel program after eligibility rules changed, but that he doesn’t mind the solitude of the woods because it helps his mental health. “My ideal living environment is to have my own tent and my own space, away from the public, which is what we are trying to do here,” he said.
But not everything is ideal. The city recently asked Malbroux and other campers to relocate after getting complaints. “They are the people signing the order to get us out of here, so I’m going to go right to their front doorstep,” Malbroux said. He staged a protest at City Hall and left signs, hoping he wouldn’t have to leave. He also says he began a hunger strike. “It’s been over a week for this and I have had a ton of public support.”
Reporter Ike Bendavid: And what’s your goal?
Derek Malbroux: My ultimate goal is for them to leave us alone.
”There are no instances here where anyone is being unsafe. They just want to be heard,” said Montpelier Asst. City Manager Kelly Murphy.
She says the city has an encampment policy and that they only take action when there are complaints. In this instance, she says residents were concerned about threats and theft. “We really want to be kind and compassionate and work with our service providers, but when we are dealing with issues of public health and safety, we do have to respond.”
Malbroux points to other recent arrivals who caused a mess at the encampment and says he just wants to live in peace with his friends. “We can not be grouped in with people exhibiting criminal behaviors,” he said.
Where they will go is up in the air until the Elks shelter reopens in October.