Congressman Welch co-sponsored a bi-partisan bill aimed at increasing funding for programs that help homeless Americans. Learn more about the proposed legislation in this article from the Brattleboro Reformer:

Welch bill would help homeless
Bennington Banner 6.7.07

WASHINGTON — Homeless Vermonters could receive additional help in finding housing and mental health treatment under a proposal by Rep. Peter Welch.

The freshman Democrat wants to double the federal funding received annually by Vermont and other rural states to combat homelessness, retooling an outdated formula that Welch says overlooks regions with small, but growing, homeless populations.

"This bipartisan legislation shows promise for effectively addressing mental illness affecting so many of the homeless in Vermont and other rural areas," Welch said in a statement.
The measure would double the minimum federal payment to small states under Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness, a grant program that could award Vermont $600,000 a year under Welch's proposal.

The program offers services to people who've become homeless because of mental illness. It also seeks to prevent homelessness.

There were an estimated 925 homeless people in Vermont in 2005, according to a study this January by the National Alliance to End Homelessness.
Welch introduced the bill with Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M.