Burlington plans to open low-barrier winter shelter as homeless population skyrockets

peter kenzekyOct 10, 2023

On Tuesday, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the city’s plans to open an overnight winter shelter at the VFW on S. Winooski Ave. this winter. The low-barrier shelter will have 30 beds with capacity for extreme weather and will be managed by the city’s Community and Economic Development Office. The Vermont Agency of Human Services is fully funding it. “This facility alone will not be sufficient. There are something like 270 unsheltered people in Chittenden County and this – we’re talking about a 30-bed facility here, clearly, we will need the state to continue to make interventions,” said Weinberger.According to the city, Burlington and Chittenden County have seen a more than 175% increase in homelessness over the last year. The shelter is set to open Dec. 15 and house people until March 15 of next year.

BURLINGTON, Vt. —

On Tuesday, Burlington Mayor Miro Weinberger announced the city’s plans to open an overnight winter shelter at the VFW on S. Winooski Ave. this winter.

The low-barrier shelter will have 30 beds with capacity for extreme weather and will be managed by the city’s Community and Economic Development Office. The Vermont Agency of Human Services is fully funding it.

“This facility alone will not be sufficient. There are something like 270 unsheltered people in Chittenden County and this – we’re talking about a 30-bed facility here, clearly, we will need the state to continue to make interventions,” said Weinberger.

According to the city, Burlington and Chittenden County have seen a more than 175% increase in homelessness over the last year.

The shelter is set to open Dec. 15 and house people until March 15 of next year.

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