News

Voters from Addison-5 (Bridport, New Haven, Weybridge) would do well to support Jubilee McGill as our new Representative to the Vermont House.

Soon lawn signs will begin appearing in the Addison-5 legislative District towns (Bridport, New Haven, and Weybridge) saying “Jubilee for Vermont.” These signs introduce Jubilee McGill of Bridport, who is running for the Vermont House to represent the Addison-5 District.

BRIDPORT — Jubilee McGill knows what it’s like to struggle.

It wasn’t that long ago that McGill, now a 36-year-old Bridport resident, was a single mom without stable housing.

ADDISON COUNTY — With federal laws designed to keep people in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic due to expire next week, a new Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) program looks to support people who are falling behind on rent and landlords working with struggling tenants, by covering owed rent expenses.

ADDISON COUNTY — As the reality of social distancing set in last month, some in the community realized that there would be a disconnect between those who needed help during the coronavirus public health emergency and those who could help those in need.

The ubiquitous pressure to stay home to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, formalized by Governor Scott’s statewide “Stay Home, Stay Safe” mandate on March 24, begs the question: what if you don’t have a home to stay in?

Editor's note: This commentary is by Jubilee McGill, an active leader in Rights & Democracy and a member of the Vermont Raise the Wage Coalition, and the Rev. Joan Javier-Duval, minister of the Unitarian Church of Montpelier and president of the board of Vermont Interfaith Action, a member of the Vermont Raise the Wage Coalition.

Every day I work with those who would directly benefit from access to a family and medical leave insurance program and an increase in their pay to a livable wage.

I also have my own personal experience with earning low wages and lacking family and medical leave insurance, and the huge challenges that come with both.