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A year after establishing a commitment to end family homelessness in Vermont by 2020, Gov. Peter Shumlin today announced a 28 percent decline in homelessness in the last year and issued a new Executive Order to increase access to affordable housing. The Order calls for owners of housing that receive state funds to make available at least 15 percent of their portfolio of housing units to Vermonters experiencing homelessness.

The Leahy-Collins Amendment to the anti-trafficking bill was narrowly defeated Wednesday afternoon, in Senate vote of 56 to 43 – four votes short of the 60 votes needed for passage of the Leahy-Collins Amendment

Shortly, we will vote on two amendments related to preventing human trafficking by supporting runaway and homeless youth. Senator Cornyn’s amendment pays lip service to this effort, but it is not a meaningful alternative to the comprehensive amendment Senator Collins and I will offer. Our amendment, # 290, the Runaway and Homeless Youth and Trafficking Prevention Act, has the support of 30 bipartisan cosponsors who understand that no effort to end human trafficking can be complete without addressing the needs of runaway and homeless youth

With over 1,500 Vermonters without housing on any given night and families with children now making up half of all people in emergency shelters, Gov. Peter Shumlin and Human Services Secretary Hal Cohen today announced a statewide strategy for ending child and family homelessness in Vermont by 2020. The Governor and Secretary made the announcement while celebrating a grant of more than a half-million dollars to rehabilitate and increase the number affordable housing units in Chittenden County, helping to relieve a shortage that affects all of those who face homelessness.

Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) is seeking proposals, on behalf of the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (VCEH), from qualified applicants to become the HMIS Lead Agency to serve the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care geographic area.

The Senate Tuesday morning began debate on legislation approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation, a form of modern day slavery that affects thousands of people every day. 

As the Senate prepares to consider legislation to combat human trafficking as soon as next week, Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) is urging lawmakers to support meaningful legislation to prevent vulnerable youth from becoming targets of trafficking and sexual exploitation

COTS hosts inaugural “What the Fix” Slam from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, May 12, at Arts Riot (400 Pine St., Burlington). The WT(Fix) Slam was created by the COTS leadership team with the goal of developing innovative initiatives to further COTS’ mission. COTS frontline staff – who help Vermonters who are at risk or homeless every day – will present the three proposals at Monday’s community event.

The Chittenden County Continuum of Care, and the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness (the Balance of State Continuum of Care) are joining efforts for the eighth statewide Point-in-Time Count on January 28-29, 2014. The Continuums of Care are comprised of homeless and human service organizations as well as housing agencies and other partners that strive to eliminate homelessness throughout Vermont. These efforts will be supported by the Agency of Human Services, the City of Burlington, the Vermont State Housing Authority, and United Ways of Vermont.

The 16th Homelessness Marathon will originate from Brattleboro, VT on the night of Wednesday, February 19th. With this broadcast, we will be returning to our original nighttime format, airing a six hour broadcast from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m., EST.

BURLINGTON - November 27, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fletcher Allen’s Orthopedics department holds its sixth annual Soles4Souls shoe event at the COTS Daystation at 9-10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2012.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 18, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- “We’re good at responding to global issues–global awareness is excellent at Saint Michael’s,” said Heidi St. Peter, director of volunteer services at the college. “But right around the corner things are difficult for local families, and we must respond to them as well,” she said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - April 26, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs today proposed legislation to help the Department of Veterans Affairs meet its goal to eliminate veteran homelessness by 2015.

BARRE, VT - March 22, 2013 - (RealEstateRama) -- After Tropical Storm Irene swept through Vermont, many residents were left homeless in areas of the state that were already experiencing shortages of affordable housing.

BURLINGTON, VT - September 18, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Vermont Department of Mental Health is pleased to announce a new grant award from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help end homelessness for Vermonters with mental illnesses.

MONTPELIER, Vt. - May 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Winooski’s downtown has been designated a “Vermont Neighborhood” under a housing bill passed last year, making it eligible for benefits designed to aid in the development of lower-cost housing.

MONTPELIER, VT - April 28, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The recession hasn’t made finding affordable housing for average Vermonters any easier, according to a new report released today.

Three-quarters of a Million Dollars Will Help Veterans’ Housing Project WINOOSKI, Vt. - March 6, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Governor Jim Douglas has announced the award of a $746,000 Community Development Block Grant to the City of Winooski to build the first transitional housing project for homeless veterans in Chittenden County at a ceremony at City Hall in Winoosk