The Burlington Free Press focused on Burlington's Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) in Saturday's The Giving Season article.
Homelessness
Homelessness in Sunday's paper
Homelessness took front stage in this Sunday's Burlington Free Press.
Read Terri Hallenbeck's story "Homeless shelters fill up fast."
Homelessness stories in the press
Spurred by our publication of "Family Homelessness in Vermont" (388 KB; PDF), the fourth in a series of VHFA issue papers released last week, there have been a number of stories about homelessness in local media.
The Associated Press picked up the story that appeared in The Burlington Free Press, which led to coverage in the Boston Globe and USA Today, among others. (Here's the Brattleboro Reformer's abbreviated version of the story: "Homeless families rise in Vermont".)
VHFA publishes homelessness report
VHFA published its latest issue paper this morning. "Family Homelessness in Vermont" is the fourth in a series of issue papers we began two years ago.
"Family Homelessness in Vermont," written by VHFA Public Affairs Manager John Fairbanks, explores the number of homeless Vermonters, the state of Vermont's shelters, why people are homeless, as well as what Vermonters are doing about the problem and what more we can do.
Other issue papers in our series are:
New report addresses chronic homelessness in Vermont
VHFA has just published "The Costs and Benefits of Assisting Vermont's Chronic Homelessness."
The 14-page report compares the costs of repeatedly serving people with serious disabilities and long histories of homelessness through expensive systems such as emergency rooms, prisons, and shelters with the costs of providing permanent supportive housing. It draws from studies already done in communities across the country.
COTS Walk raises $143,000
This past weekend's COTS Walk raised $143,000 to benefit the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) in Burlington.
The annual 3-mile walk around downtown Burlington raises money and awareness to benefit COTS's mission to provide emergency shelter, services, and housing for the homeless.
Mark your calendar: Next year's COTS Walk is set for Sunday, May 3.
COTS Walk registration now open
Burlington's Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) has started accepting registrations for its annual COTS Walk event, to be held Sunday, May 4.
The 3-mile walk around downtown Burlington raises money and awareness to benefit COTS's mission to provide emergency shelter, services, and housing for the homeless.
A number of VHFA staffers will be joining the walk this year.
For more information, or to register, head to the COTS site.
(Photo: Milia Bell)
COTS marks a quarter-century of helping Vermonters
The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
The Burlington non-profit organization provides emergency shelter, services, and housing for people who are homeless; and also advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness.
COTS started in 1982 with the Waystation project: an overnight shelter to help homeless through the cold winter. The organization's founders planned to run the program only until spring, but steady demand for services, combined with cuts in federal spending on housing and rental assistance, led them to continue and expand their mission.