COTS Shelters for Individuals and Families

WAYSTATION

This is a 36-bed shelter for men and women, ages 18 and older, who have no other place to sleep at night except for the streets. We make every effort to welcome and provide a safe space for trans and non-binary guests by offering them the choice of the dorm that fits best for them. Located on lower Church Street in downtown Burlington, the shelter is open 6 p.m. to 8 a.m., 365 days a year. 

DAYSTATION

This daytime drop-in shelter is open 365 days a year seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It offers a refuge from the streets and access to an array of services and medical care. This is where individuals can meet with COTS staff and connect with local resources, receive mail and telephone calls, and find support toward their goal of self-sufficiency. Daystation staff provide support, assistance and referrals, as well as educational and recreational opportunities whenever possible.

On average, more than 50 people a day visit the Daystation. With the help of volunteers, a noontime meal is served every day.

FIREHOUSE FAMILY SHELTER

The first shelter COTS created specifically for families with children, the Firehouse opened in 1988. It is located in Burlington’s Old North End and can accommodate five families at a time.

MAIN STREET FAMILY SHELTER

Opened in November 2002 after a major capital campaign and renovation effort that took just eight months, this facility provides shelter for up to 10 families. All COTS family shelters are staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER

Housing Navigation

For Clients Residing in COTS Shelters

COTS Housing Navigators are assigned to clients staying in one of COTS shelter programs, and they support those clients in reaching their long-term housing goals. They work to understand the client's goals, assess their barriers to reaching those goals, and then support them through the process of overcoming those barriers and transitioning into long-term, sustainable housing.

Housing Navigation Services Include:

• Directly assisting with the timely completion of Public Housing Authority applications for rental subsidies and all other relevant state/local housing assistance programs.
• Navigating benefits like 3Squares, Reach Up, SSI & SSDI.
• Connecting families/individuals to any available resources that will expedite their transition from emergency shelter into transitional or permanent housing.
• Developing a housing support crisis plan that includes early prevention/intervention when housing is jeopardized.
• Working with referral agencies to determine & verify eligibility for clients.

Outreach Housing Team

The Outreach Housing Team was launched as a “Mobile Outreach Team” in the Spring of 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This team provides direct, on-site services to families and individuals experiencing homelessness and are currently staying in area hotels & motels.

The Outreach Housing Team works in close collaboration with other support services: our Housing Resource Center, our family shelters, and the Waystation and Daystation programs. They also work in connection with our nonprofit community partners to provide the best safety net and care possible.

The Outreach Housing Team has met urgent and crisis needs while also helping people achieve long-term solutions like sustainable permanent housing.

Outreach Housing Teams Primary Services Include:

• Distributing basic needs (diapers, clothing, food, first aid supplies).
• Connecting guests with mental health, substance use, and medical providers.
• Providing crisis intervention (including overdose prevention and distributed harm reduction tools).
• Assisting clients with applications for mainstream benefits (3SquaresVT, Medicaid and Medicare, Social Security and disability benefits).
• Enrolling guests in the community’s Coordinated Entry system to access housing.
• Helping guests secure housing.

Housing Retention

For Clients Residing at COTS Facilities

COTS provides housing retention services to ensure that previously unhoused clients are able to maintain stable housing after securing permanent housing. Housing Retention Specialists are part of the Housing Resource Center, working directly with COTS residents to make sure they’re on track to reach their goals, assisting them in developing a service plan  for transition to and/or maintenance of stable housing.

Housing Retention Services Include:

• Identifying immediate, short-term needs.
• Strategizing opportunities for stabilizing clients/tenants that are at risk of losing their housing.
• Working with clients to develop and manage budget plans.
• Providing training and referrals for education around financial wellness and life skills.
• Facilitating positive relationships with clients and landlords.
• Advocating and assisting clients in accessing community resources and support services to increase their housing stability.
• Connecting with other community services.