By Kolby R. LaMarche
Tonight, the Burlington City Council will review a report on the city’s efforts to support people experiencing homelessness, they said. Compiled by Sarah Russell, Special Assistant to End Homelessness, the update covers what’s been done, what’s in progress, and what challenges lie ahead.
The city has placed toilets and trash bins at three locations—Urban Reserve (waterfront), Flying A/snow dump, and Old Dump Road—to help people living in tents or vehicles, they said. Battery Park now has a wheelchair-accessible toilet, and water and handwashing stations are available at some sites. A plan to provide secure storage for belongings at the Community Resource Center on Pearl Street fell through due to space and permit problems, so the city is searching for another location, they said.
A “safe parking” program, possibly near the police station, is being considered to give people a safe place to park overnight, but no site is finalized nor any details provided about how safety will be ensured.
A 2023 policy on camping on public land, updated with new city roles and weather-related rules, awaits City Council approval after a safety committee review, they said. Cleaning up abandoned campsites is challenging, so the city is training staff, creating clear procedures, and ensuring fair wages, they said. The Community Resource Center, a daytime shelter and meal site, secured $500,000 in the state’s 2026 budget, pending the governor’s approval.

This past winter showed that one cold weather shelter isn’t enough, they said. Next winter, the nonprofit CVOEO will take the lead, with the city helping to find more shelter locations. Meetings with shelter providers are ongoing to add year-round beds, which could lessen the need for emergency shelters, they said. But how will the city coordinate multiple sites?
The Elmwood Community Shelter, often called the “pods,” received a one-year permit extension, they said, as state zoning changes delayed a longer permit. The city is applying for a grant to keep it open, with a Council discussion planned for June. A pilot program bringing medical care to shelters last year led to a state grant application to fund health services at shelters like Elmwood, they said.
New state zoning rules limit the city’s control over shelters, they said. A proposal to give Burlington more authority didn’t pass, leaving the city to rethink its approach. A state bill, H.91, aims to move homeless program funds to regional groups, with a vote expected soon.
The City Council is expected to discuss the report tonight.


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