Vermont News First
Households meeting homeless criteria will be able to park up to 12 vehicles overnight on the shores of Lake Champlain under a new pilot project by the city of Burlington.
The homeless families will need to register for one of the dozen spots in the gravel parking lot at Perkins Pier at the end of Maple Street each night from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m.
The city said the pilot program is expected to run Friday night through Aug. 15.
The program is designed to provide safe overnight parking for those that are homeless. The city says it reserves the right to revoke a permit due to problem behavior, threats to safety, destruction of property, theft, illegal behavior and violations of the program rules.
The rules prohibit children from being left unattended for any length of time.
The rules also prohibit illegal substances on the property and will mandate quiet hours from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. under a city ordinance.
It was unclear who will enforce each of the rules.
The pilot project is in response to families needing a safe place to park overnight after losing hotel rooms designated by the state for the homeless, according to Sarah Russell, Burlington’s special assistant to end homelessness.
She said the proposal has the blessing of Progressive Party Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak and there has been communication with the City Council so members are aware of it.
The project could be brought to a public City Council meeting if there is an effort to extend the pilot project, she said.
Local businesses, including restaurants, law firms, offices and others in the area were caught blindsided by the unpublicized plan.
The city on Tuesday did alert a group of social service agencies, including the HowardCenter, Pathways, Turning Point, Spectrum, COTS, the Community Health Center of Burlington about the parking plan.
Russell said she was unsure what the program would cost Burlington taxpayers.
She said the city will pay for a portable ADA toilet to be installed and maintained. The city also will waive parking fees that it might have collected from the lot, she said. The city also will cover lighting, security cameras and the parking passes for the hours and dates used.
Homeless people must register with Russell and complete an intake form that includes names of the family members, including children. Pets, the vehicle make and model and the name and contact info for the family’s case manager.
The program is first come, first served. People parking in the lot besides 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. will be ticketed and possibly towed, the city said.