Champlain Place Makes Progress Finding Homes for People Experiencing Homelessness

Read the full article at WCAX. Here is an excerpt:

BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) -

Lines of people experiencing homelessness used to wait outside the former Champlain Inn in Burlington for a place to stay the night. Now, a local nonprofit is creating permanent housing and a plan to integrate those people back into the community.

Darryl Galloway has been in and out of prison for 30 years. It’s made his housing and job search a challenge. “My criminality -- it’s a hurdle because you’ve got people who are like, ‘Oh, do I want to rent to this individual? Do I want to employ this individual?’” Galloway said.

He has been homeless a few times, but he’s now living at Champlain Place on Shelburne Road. It’s a new low-barrier shelter overseen by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. “It’s more of a community here, so you have people that are from Brandon or Ferrisburgh,” said Galloway. He has high hopes that with the nonprofit’s help, he’ll be able to eventually live on his own.

The building is currently under construction and housing 35 people temporarily. In the last eight months, eight people have already been transferred into transitional housing or permanent units. CVOEO executive director Paul Dragon says that’s the goal for all who stay at the shelter.