This 2023 Vermont Town Meeting Day, our movement delivered some big wins for Just Cause Eviction (JCE) as voters said a resounding “Yes!” to ballot measures in Essex and Winooski!
In the midst of our housing crisis, these ballot wins are a huge step forward in the fight for tenants’ rights in Vermont. JCE policies protect tenants from arbitrary, profit-motivated, and retaliatory evictions by requiring landlords to have a legally valid reason for an eviction.
Unfortunately, the third ballot measure in Brattleboro fell short, but local organizers led an incredible campaign and we will continue organizing – the fight continues! After Burlington voters said “Yes!” to JCE, and we came within one vote of passing this charter change in the VT State Legislature last year, these new local wins create new momentum in the fight to win JCE statewide.
“We are immensely proud of everyone who has campaigned so hard to win sensible and much-needed tenant protection policies in their towns. Your efforts are part of a larger movement to create housing stability across Vermont for renters, who represent a third of our state’s population,” said Tom Proctor, RAD’s VT Housing Justice Organizer.
Thank you to everyone who stepped up to run this year and to all who helped lead the JCE ballot campaigns. No matter the outcome, your courageous leadership, both in and out of office, is contributing to a stronger and more powerful movement throughout Vermont. And to all of RAD’s members and supporters: thank you for getting out the vote and for all the work so many of you do on the ground in your towns to get movement leaders elected and help build a brighter future!
Meanwhile, RAD also had grassroots champions elected to municipal and school board seats across Vermont, including in Barre, Burlington, and Addison County.