BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – People experiencing homelessness are scrambling to find a place to stay as temperatures are supposed to hit below freezing.
“It definitely is a struggle sometimes. I have run into a couple really mean people, but also there are a lot of decent people around,” Bobbi-Jo Hodgeon of Swanton said.
Bobbi-Jo Hodgeon has been homeless, off and on, bouncing between Swanton, and Burlington for the last two years.
She says she really enjoys the community but she’s rushing to leave to stay with family to avoid the cold night. But is worried for others, who don’t have a place to go.
“Actually excited because I am going to be getting on the bus today to go home and be with my kids for the holidays. I have said to numerous people that I would love to take them with me,” Hodgeon said.
For the past several days, organizations like the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity, COTS and Spectrum Youth and Family Services, have been preparing to find alternative solutions for those living outside.
According to COTS, all the shelters and hotel rooms are full, and they are handing out things like sleeping bags, tents, mittens, coats and warm boots.
But they are worried for the potential of more deaths with freezing temps coming this weekend.
“But the fact of the matter is that when it’s below zero, when it is freezing. People will die, and people are dying in the state. We are adding capacity for 30 people. We are stepping up to try to do more. But even with our additional capacity, it is still not enough,” Rebekah Mott of COTS said.
Which is why CVOEO has partnered with the city of Burlington, to set up an additional warming shelter at the city-owned Miller Center.
City officials spent the day doing outreach, and driving people to the center.
“We do know that unsheltered homelessness has been rising so. I really do applaud the city’s efforts to open up an emergency shelter. We have 94 cots, I think the capacity is 120 people,” Paul Dragon of CVOEO said.
CVOEO and COTS are both opening up in January and February. The Miller Center will stay until Monday morning. Officials say if the situation does change, they may re-evaluate the plan moving forward.
Anyone that needs help can also call Vermont 2-1-1 : https://vermont211.org/