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News

‘In our words, in our community’ shares stories of those experiencing homelessness

A new project presenting the stories of individuals facing homelessness and the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity advocates who help them is traveling to several towns in Franklin County this summer. Produced by Vermont Folklife, the exhibit made its first stop in Burlington’s City Hall Park on Saturday, May 13. ‘In our words, in our community,’ holds space for 15 community members' stories through photographed portraits and audio recordings of interviews. Each person’s story is displayed on a yard sign, with a portrait on one side and a QR code leading to audio recordings of their story on the other.

News

How Coordinated Entry helps Vermonters in need find permanent housing

A federally mandated system works to help the homeless transition into permanent housing without falling through the cracks. Our Katharine Huntley looks at how the Coordinated Entry system is working in Chittenden County. Statistics show 794 people in Chittenden County are homeless or are about to be. That’s 618 households that need stable housing.

News

CVOEO launches program to end childhood homelessness

Ending homelessness during childhood may help solve adult homelessness moving forward, according to the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity. It’s launched a new program focused on getting families into affordable housing, and helping them stay there.

News

Efforts to get Vermont’s homeless inside as temperatures plummet outside

In freezing conditions like this, the best bet is to stay inside. But that can be a problem for people without permanent housing. That’s why community organizations across Vermont are ramping up operations to try to save lives.

News

Burlington prepares for sub-zero temperatures

Subzero temperatures are expected Friday and Saturday in much of Vermont and New York, leaving many outdoor events cancelled. Vermont officials are urging people to be prepared and to stay indoors if needed. But one community may be especially vulnerable: the unhoused.

Blog

Dragon-Minter-O’Farrell: We can end child homelessness now

This commentary is by Paul Dragon, executive director of the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity; Sue Minter, executive director of Capstone; Jenna O’Farrell, executive director of Northeast Kingdom Community Action; and with the support of Southeastern Vermont Community Action.

News

Wash and learn: New owners bring social services to Burlington laundromat

Wash and learn: New owners bring social services to Burlington laundromat

News

'Homelessness is a crisis:' Flags in Taylor Park highlight homelessness in Franklin County

To draw attention to people experiencing homelessness, 350 flags are staked in the cold ground of Taylor Park. That’s one flag for every person in Franklin County — including 76 children — who was without a home in 2022.

News

Building Bright Futures releases annual State of Vermont's Children report, highlighting homelessness in 2023

On Monday, Building Bright Futures presented its annual State of Vermont's Children Report to the legislature. The report used data from 2022 to outline four policy goals for Vermont, all of which focus on ways to improve early childhood.

News

Jess Hyman: Assistance animals are not pets

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s Fair Housing Project and the Vermont Tenants Hotline receive a lot of questions related to assistance animals from renters and also from housing and service providers around the state. I’m writing to share some information about fair housing rights for people with disabilities, provide resources for anyone experiencing discrimination in their housing, and advocate for a shift in how transitional housing providers accommodate both assistance animals and pets.