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Homeless Shelters, Emergency Housing and Help for People Who Are Homeless

This page has a list of shelters and programs in Vermont. It also has phone numbers for people who can help you get housing or keep housing. Also, you will find links to resources to food and other help you may need if you are homeless.

Shelters

Barre

Bennington

Brattleboro

Burlington

Ludlow

Newport

Proctorsville

Rutland

St. Albans

Vergennes

White River Junction

For more information about shelters, call 2-1-1 or go online to Vermont211.org.

Warming shelters

Churches, agencies and organizations in some Vermont towns have winter warming shelters to offer additional spaces for people who need temporary shelter in the winter. To find out if there is a warming shelter in your area, call 2-1-1 or go online to Vermont211.org.

Need help to get or keep housing?

As part of a Coordinated Entry System, dozens of local organizations are working together to help those who are experiencing homelessness – or are at risk of homelessness. They can help you find housing and get connected to support and resources in the community. See this list of Coordinated Entry contacts.

Emergency housing

  • The Department for Children and Family's (DCF) Economic Services Division offers housing supports for homeless households. For more information or to apply, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151. If it is after business hours or on a weekend or holiday, call 2-1-1.
  • When you apply for shelter with DCF, they will let you know if a shelter has opened in your area. You can also call 2-1-1 to find out if there is a warming shelter or other shelter in your area.
  • If you are denied or terminated from a shelter or the state’s motel program, call us for help at 1-800-889-2047.
  • During the winter months of December 15 to March 15, you are eligible for GA emergency housing in a motel if you are homeless and meet other eligibility criteria, even if you have used up all your GA days in the past year. From November 15 to December 15 and from March 15 to April 15, this expanded eligibility will be in place only when the weather is very cold. You can check the DCF website to see when these special rules will be in place in your region over the current three-day period.
  • If you stay in a shelter or motel, you need to participate in “coordinated entry.” Through coordinated entry, you will be assigned a housing case manager who will help you access subsidies and programs to help you get permanent housing. To learn more about coordinated entry, call 2-1-1. If you worked with your case manager to apply for a subsidy or other program and your application was denied, call us for help at 1-800-889-2047.
  • Veterans can get housing help from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program at 1-844-820-3232 (toll-free); the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (toll-free); or Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-666-9844 (toll-free). Vermont Veterans facing eviction or foreclosure should contact the Safely Home project for advice and help.

FAQs about eviction and the end of VERAP

Follow this link for info that includes evictions from a hotel/motel.

Transitional Housing Program Update 

  • The Transitional Housing Program is no longer taking applications. But if you currently have a motel room through the Transitional Housing Program, you may keep getting assistance through March 2023. Contact us if you have a problem with your current transitional housing.
  • If you are experiencing homelessness, you may qualify for a motel voucher for a limited period of time through the General Assistance (GA) Emergency Housing. (See above.) Visit or call your local Economic Services Division district office or call 211 after hours to apply.

Other resources for people who are homeless

  1. COTS’ Survivor’s Guide to Burlington (Finding shelters, food, services, medical help, counseling)
  2. Help for veterans from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program at 1-844-820-3232 (toll-free); the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (toll-free); or Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-666-9844 (toll-free). Vermont Veterans facing eviction or foreclosure should contact the Safely Home project for advice and help.
  3. Links to Resources for Homeless (HUD)
  4. National Coalition for the Homeless
  5. Our web page about Subsidized Housing
     
Updated: Mar 29, 2023