MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – Advocates for the homeless were among those Wednesday reacting to the death of two people found dead in a tent last week in Wolcott. They’re also taking aim at the state’s decision to scale back emergency policies that they say contributed to their deaths.
Friends and acquaintances of Lucas and Tammy Menard filed into Christ Church in Montpelier Wednesday afternoon for a memorial service.
The two were found dead the day before Thanksgiving in a tent on their family’s property off of Jones Road in Wolcott. The couple had lost their hotel room when state rules changed. Their family says they were choosing to live in a tent and used facilities on the family property.
“They would reach out to me to help others,” said Brenda Siegel, a homeless advocate who says she was devastated to hear about their deaths. “I was heartbroken.”
It’s still unclear how they died but Siegel says there are others in the state who are dying in tents as winter approaches. “When the Legislature comes back and looks at the policies, we have to see that people cannot survive outside in a Vermont winter,” she said.
Siegel points to a change in policy that kicked in at the start of December where the state no longer provides hotel vouchers during cold weather.
The state is still providing hotel rooms to about 1,100 vulnerable people, including households who are over 65, are disabled, pregnant, or have children under 19. Those with a loss of housing due to a death, natural disaster, or domestic situation — as well as a court-ordered eviction — are also eligible.
“We need to be focused on more affordable and long-term solutions for folks and need to be able to make sure they are getting the support that they need,” said Miranda Gray with the Department for Children and Families. She wouldn’t confirm if there have been any recent deaths due to lack of shelter. When asked if DCF would change course on policy, Gray say that’s in the hands of lawmakers. “I think it isn’t just the state. Right at this point there are a lot of factors including legislation that would have to happen.”
Gov. Phil Scott at his weekly press conference said that every death is tragic. “These two deaths — they were people, family members,” he said.
State officials say they could open more pop-up emergency shelters depending on the temperatures and demand for them
Family members of the Menards on Wednesday issued a statement saying the couple did not die “cold and alone” and that they had electric heat in their tent and access to a home less than 100 feet away. The family says the couple used the bathroom and kitchen but refused an offer to move inside.
Their cause of death is still pending.