Emergency Shelter Opens Amid Severe Cold
In response to forecasts predicting dangerously low temperatures, Burlington will operate a low-barrier emergency shelter on the evening of December 25. The facility, located at the Robert Miller Community & Recreation Center on 130 Gosse Court, will be accessible from 5 p.m. on Christmas Day until 8 a.m. the following morning.
Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak's office issued a statement highlighting the anticipated "well-below freezing conditions with windchill" during this period. The shelter welcomes adults aged 18 and above, and pets are also permitted.
Transportation and Additional Support
Free transportation to the Miller Center will be provided starting between 4:30 and 5 p.m. at two locations: 95 North Ave. (the COTS Daystation) and the Fletcher Free Library at 235 College St. To arrange a ride, individuals can contact Sarah Russell, Emergency Services Director at the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, by calling 802-829-5679.
Burlington officials are working to establish another emergency shelter to accommodate the estimated over 200 people living unsheltered in the area. This effort comes as Vermont's seasonal shelters and hotel-motel programs have reached full capacity.
The initiative is a collaborative effort between the city and CVOEO, with financial backing from the Vermont Agency of Human Services and Vermont Interfaith Action.
For further details about the shelter, residents can dial 211 or contact VT Economic Services at 1-800-479-6151. Questions can be directed to Sarah Russell via email at srussell@cvoeo.org.
