Buying hotels for housing, 988 suicide hotline, COVID-19 app.
Hotels to become housing in Burlington, VT:
BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — The Champlain Housing Trust has purchased the Days Inn in Shelburne, its second major acquisition this month and the eighth lodging establishment it has purchased since 2013, the organization said Monday.
The trust’s Harbor Place motel will eventually shift operation to the Days Inn site, setting in motion a plan to redevelop the Harbor Place site into nearly 100 affordable homes and rentals that are designed to help ease a housing shortage in the region.
Read the full AP story HERE.
988 suicide phone hotline getting $282M to ease July launch:
WASHINGTON (AP) — People in crisis and those trying to help them will have a new phone number — 988 — to reach the national suicide prevention network starting in July. On Monday, federal health officials announced more than $280 million to smooth the transition from the current 10-digit number to three digits.
Three-digit dialing to reach suicide hotline counselors has long been a goal for mental health advocates, lawmakers in Congress, the Federal Communications Commission and the telecommunications industry. The Biden administration says it wants to help deliver an on-schedule launch this summer. The new 988 number will also handle text and chat.
Read the full AP story HERE.
Connecticut will have proof-of-vaccination cellphone app.
HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut residents soon will be able to show their vaccination status using a cellphone app, though whether it’s required will be up to businesses, restaurants and other establishments.
Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont announced Friday the app will be available by the end of the year.
Read the whole AP story HERE.
