In an attempt to ameliorate the affordable housing issue in the Burlington community, the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) has started the Housing Resource Center. The center is being used to keep people from losing their homes in an increasingly troubled economy.
Trying to avert disaster
This summer, for the first time in its 25-year history, COTS filled its shelters to capacity. The committee has been forced to turn away up to 10 people per day this summer and has been operating with overflow for awhile now, community service coordinator Deb Bouton says.
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The Wilson Hotel, one of COTS' four shelters, located on Church street in Burlington.
(Photo by Megan Davin) |
“The economy is hitting people hard,” Bouton says. “There is a major lack of affordable housing and assistance...We are trying to avert disasters.”
The resource center has become one of COTS' top priorities now and is meant to keep people from losing their housing, Arly Scully, a COTS administrative employee, says.
The center doesn’t physically open until Oct. 7, but has been operating out of the agency’s general office. It will be located at the corner of North and North Champlain streets.
The resource center's main concern is keeping the issue of homelessness in the area from getting even worse. Keeping people from losing their homes is among COTS’ top concerns, COTS grants manager Beth Krueger says.
“Financial debt is very hard to get out of,” Krueger says. “Evictions stay on your record and are difficult to come back from.”
The center is providing grants to people so they can pay rents, security deposits, or for other types of emergencies. It is one space that can help people stay on their feet, Krueger says.
Within the past year, COTS has been able to help 40 families stay in their homes and has provided security deposits for 31 homes, Krueger says. The situation is becoming increasingly critical and COTS expects these numbers to double or triple over the next year.
Rally for recognition
On Sept. 24, COTS participated in a rally at the corner of College and Lake streets during the gubernatorial debate to help send a message to the rest of the community. Representatives from other agencies took part in the effort as well, Krueger says.
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Representatives from COTS and other community members voice their concern.
(Photo by Caily McDermott)
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“[COTS] wanted to rally for exposure,” Scully says. “We knew that media was going to be there and we wanted to get the word out.”
The agency didn’t know what would be discussed at the debate, but were thrilled when the night ended with a discussion on the topic of affordable housing, Scully says.
“The housing issue was brought up and people are getting a better grasp of the situation,” Scully says. “[COTS] had plenty of representatives and supporters there to make people aware.”
Another goal of COTS is to obtain the assistance of Vermont’s senators in its efforts to improve the already critical situation, Krueger says.
“We were actually able to speak with the candidates and [Governor] Douglas,” Krueger says. “We are looking to gain money from the state as we move into the winter.”
Notorious Vermont winter ahead
Now that the summer has ended and the weather is getting colder, the committee will be facing even more challenges, Bouton says.
“[COTS employees] are gearing up for a very tough fall and winter,” Bouton says. “During the summer people are able to camp outside and survive the weather, but this time of year is much more difficult.”
The committee has held emergency meetings about the issue of space, but is still unaware of where they will be able to temporarily house people outside their walls, Bouton says.
The need for financial support within the community continues to rise, Bouton says. It is getting to the point where people are sleeping on cots and bunks in the common rooms.
"During the summer people are able to camp outside and survive the weather, but this time of year is much more difficult." |
- Deb Bouton, COTS community service coordinator |
According to Bouton, the shelter is meant to house people for just a short time, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to do so and people have been staying for up to one month. The shelter has 15 rooms available for 15 families to occupy, but there is still not enough room to accommodate the rising demand.
“It’s hard to move families out to allow new ones to come in, but our goal is to move them as quickly as possible,” Bouton says.
The committee is trying to remain positive despite the intensity of the situation, Krueger says.
“The situation is very overwhelming,” Krueger says. “We’re doing the best we can, but there are still a lot of unanswered questions.”
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