Vermont is in the middle of a housing and homelessness crisis. In 2023, the rate of homelessness in Vermont was 2nd highest in the U.S. A point-in-time count in January 2023 found that an estimated 3,295 people, or 51 out of every 10,000 people were experiencing homelessness in Vermont. That count isn’t complete, as it is difficult to find and count unhoused people, but it nevertheless paints a sobering picture.
On Thursday October 24th, Sustainable Woodstock and Pentangle Arts will host an in-person film screening of “Just Getting By,” a sweeping, and yet intimate look at the lives of Vermonters who are struggling with food and housing insecurity. We will screen the film free of charge at Woodstock Town Hall Theatre. The screening will begin at 6 PM, and will be followed by a Q&A panel featuring the Director Bess O’Brien, Cherry Sullivan from Willing Hands, and Angela Zhang from Listen. This panel will highlight the voices of people who are on the ground working to combat these issues in our community.
This film screening and its themes of hunger and homelessness are especially timely. Last month, hundreds of Vermonters lost their motel vouchers and were left with no choice but to pitch tents. New restrictions capped motel stays at 80 days (outside of winter months), forcing families to leave motels and find alternative housing. They will be able to reapply on December 1st, just as winter approaches. Those forced to leave the motel program include disabled people, elderly people, people fleeing domestic violence, and children. Without room in shelters, families are being given tents. Over 1,000 Vermonters are predicted to lose access to shelter by mid-October. 91 lawmakers signed onto a letter October 1st asking Phil Scott to declare a state of emergency and to put up emergency shelters.
Hunger is another salient theme in “Just Getting By,” and in the lives of Vermonters. The COVID-19 pandemic has had lasting impact on food insecurity; prior to the pandemic, one in ten people in Vermont faced hunger. Right now, two in five people in Vermont are experiencing hunger. In 2023 Upper Valley food banks and food shelves saw a large increase in the number of people using their services–Listen’s Lebanon food pantry had 11,000 visitors in fiscal year 2023, up from 7,177 in fiscal year 2022 and 4,879 in fiscal year 2021. Food security remains a critical need throughout Woodstock and the surrounding towns.
In response, Sustainable Woodstock is continuing and expanding efforts to increase food security. To date, our Grown Your Own Garden (GYOG) project has distributed over 300 beginner gardening kits that have enabled and empowered hundreds of people of all ages to establish new gardens and grow their own nutritious vegetables. Each year we also grow food for the Woodstock Community Food Shelf and Upper Valley Haven in our Billings Community Garden. This year we have thus far grown and donated over 250 pounds of produce.
Sustainability can mean solar panels and electric vehicles, but it also means sustenance—ensuring that our community is safe and well fed. We invite you to join us to learn about these timely issues facing Vermonters on October 24th.
Event information:
“Just Getting By” Film Screening and Q&A
Register at: https://JustGettingBy2024.eventbrite.com
Location: Town Hall Theatre, 31 The Grn #2, Woodstock, VT
Free Event. Donations are welcome and go to support our local arts community. Make donations at https://pentanglearts.org/get-involved/donations/
Hosted by Sustainable Woodstock and Pentangle Arts. Supported in part by The VERMONT HUMANITIES and the Mt Ascutney Community Health Implementation Plan (CHIP) Housing Workgroup.
Made possible by our underwriters Vermont Command Mascoma Bank and sponsors Ellaway Group, The Unicorn, and Mark Knott DDS. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed do not necessarily represent those of the Vermont Humanities.
