News

Would a ‘wet shelter’ be a help or a hindrance for Burlington?

Posted March 21, 2012

Written by Matt Ryan

“A wet shelter? Come on,” said David
Welch, taking a drag on his cigarette in
front of the Burlington mall. “That’s
influencing drunks to kill themselves. That’s telling them, ‘OK, we’ll pay you to kill yourself.’”Welch, a former homeless drinker now 22 years sober, said he’s old-school. If Burlington wants to help alcoholics living on its streets, a wet shelter — a place with few rules that allows them to arrive drunk — isn’t going to cut it.

“I’m more, ‘Sucks to be you. Go to jail,’”
Welch said. “I drank straight for 16 years, and I did a lot of time in the joint. That’s the only time I sobered up.”

Full Burlington Free Press Article

Would a ‘wet shelter be a hindrance for Burlington

Announcements, Burlington Free Press, City of Burlington, COTS, Homelessness, Poverty, VT

Homeless man’s death triggers Burlington shelter talk

Posted December 29, 2011

You will often hear politicians talk about making sure no one freezes to death in Vermont. Well, it appears someone has frozen to death in Vermont, or at least that appears to be a contributing factor.

The unnerving announcement from the Burlington Police Department:

“On December 17, 2011, at approximately 7:49 pm, the Burlington Police Department was notified by a passerby that they had seen a person sleeping on the ground in the area of South Union Street at College Street. The caller was concerned for the well being of this person due to the frigid temperature. According to weather reports, with the wind chill factor it was near 7 degrees at the time of the report.”…

Article Taken From the Burlington Free Press

URL: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article

PDF: Paul Otoole Death

Burlington Free Press, COTS, Homelessness, Housing, VT

Managing the Needs of Vermont’s Homeless VPR Story

Posted November 16, 2011

Wednesday, 11/16/11 Noon and 7pm

By Jane Lindholm, Produced by Patti Daniels

The recent Occupy protests in Burlington brought to light problems of mental illness and substance abuse among some homeless people, but advocates say that doesn’t tell the whole story. We look at the entrenched issues facing some of Vermont’s homeless population and the resources to help them. Our guests are Matt Young, supervisor of the Howard Center’s Street Outreach Team in Burlington, and Rita Markley, executive director of COTS, the Committee On Temporary Shelter.

To Listen to the VPR Story please click here

Announcements, COTS, Homelessness, Housing, Poverty, VT