By Guy Page
Except for Burlington, the four temporary shelters set up by the State have been ignored by many Vermonters evicted from ‘homeless hotels’ on Friday.
Statistics provided by state officials Tuesday morning show that (except in Burlington) there was little interest in the bare-bones, substance-abuse free, no-weapons allowed, night-time only shelters staffed by emergency services workers, National Guard, and security.
However, media and anecdotal reports say the transition out of the hotel and motel program was not easy for many residents. In Burlington, a monthly dinner offered Saturday night by a non-profit organization for street people saw both more people, and more of them in substance abuse and mental health crisis, than usual.
The state estimate of up to 500 people seeking shelter proved very high. Administration officials last week said they hoped that moving many of the 300 people still staying 24/7 in homeless hotels would encourage some to find other options.
So far, that hope appears to have been fulfilled, as the stats show.
| Site Location | Number of Clients at midnight | Number of staff | Providers present |
| Burlington | 30 | 4 EMS staff, 2 National Guard, Security staff | Howard Center, VCCI, ESD, CVOEO, Burlington Housing, AHS Field Director |
| Rutland | 2 | 4 EMS staff, 2 National Guard, Security staff | Rutland Mental Health, HireablilityVT, VCCI, Economic Services and BROC, AHS Field Director |
| Berlin | 0 | 4 EMS staff, 2 National Guard, Security | ESD, WCMHS, Hireability, AHS Field Director |
| Brattleboro | 0 | 4 EMS staff, 2 National Guard, Security staff | ESD, 2 HCRS, 1 Pathways, 1 HireAbility , AHS Field Director |
Friday, March 15, the Department for Children and Families Adverse Weather Conditions policy long-term stay for General Assistance Emergency Housing ended, at which point the policy moves to night to night, based on the weather. Individuals not otherwise eligible for GA Emergency Housing will need to seek alternate shelter options.
The State, for the first time, set up four short-term, transitional shelters open Friday, March 15, from 7PM to 7AM to give unsheltered individuals additional time to seek an alternate solution, according to state officials. These shelters will run four to seven nights, based on use, staffed by National Guard members, contracted medical professionals and security personnel. The shelters are open in Berlin, Brattleboro, Burlington, and Rutland.
Locations:
- Berlin – 190 Junction Road (ANR Annex)
- Brattleboro – Former VT Yankee administrative building, next door to the Windham County Sherrif’s Department
- Burlington – 108 Cherry Street (former Health Department offices)
- Rutland – 88 Merchants Row (Asa Bloomer Building)
In brief:
- Four, short-term transitional shelters operating up to seven days
- Open from 7pm to 7am; individuals must arrive before 11pm
- Individuals may bring in only minimal personal items; weapons are strictly prohibited
- Substance use in or around the facilities is prohibited
- Staffed by National Guard, medical personnel and security staff
State officials said these shelters provide a safe place to sleep for individuals who are not still eligible for General Assistance Emergency Housing exiting hotels, to allow more transition time for individuals to find alternative housing or shelter if they have not yet done so, and to connect them with local services (substance use, mental health, primary care, etc.) to help support them in this transition. The State estimated a maximum of 500 individuals who might access these shelter options.
Each shelter has a location outside the shelter space for individuals to connect with service providers. Community service providers have been invited to work with people using the shelter to help them connect to Coordinated Entry, housing case management, healthcare, mental health services, and substance use services. This outreach will occur as individuals exit the shelter each morning.
These short-term transitional shelters create a ramp for those not eligible for General Assistance Emergency Housing to transition if they have not made alternative plans to date. It is short-term and not a new medium-term shelter option, officials said.