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.