Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness &
Chittenden County Homeless Alliance
2017 POINT IN TIME COUNT REPORT
VERMONT’S ANNUAL STATEWIDE COUNT OF THE HOMELESS
1
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Letter from AHS Secretary Gobeille……………….. 2
Map of Homelessness by County……………………. 3
Summary……………………………………………………… 4
Location of Homelessness..………..……………….… 5
Household Type……………..…………………………..… 6
Subpopulations………………………....…….…………… 7
Youth Homelessness…...…………………..……….….. 8
County Breakdowns………………………………….. 9-13
Chronically Homeless & Household Type.… 9
Addison, Bennington and Caledonia..…...... 10
Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille...….……. 11
Orange, Orleans and Rutland……….………… 12
Washington, Windham and Windsor.……….. 13
Contact Information………………….……………….…. 14
2
LETTER FROM AHS SECRETARY GOBEILLE
We know that when a person loses their home, any challenges they faced prior are immediately
amplified. For someone struggling financially, homelessness can make finding and keeping that next
job harder. Similarly, homelessness places more stress on family dynamics, making parenting harder.
Kids are more likely to miss school or transfer frequently between schools putting them behind their
peers academically and developmentally. The trauma associated with homelessness can exacerbate
underlying health and mental health issues. Along with homelessness comes a loss of privacy, dignity,
and even within the friendliest communities, stigma persists. Homelessness is a profoundly destabilizing
condition.
Ending homelessness requires us to come at the problem from multiple angles. Our strategies in
Vermont are built around three components: helping to make rents more affordable; providing the
right supportive services at the right time; and increasing access to housing. The departments of AHS
are well-positioned to play key roles, but as with any entrenched social issue, we know it requires a
whole community approach. AHS, alone, will not be able to solve the problem of homelessness. There
are major roles for private and non-profit partners as well as other state agencies and the federal
government.
This report features both hopeful news from regions that are documenting a sustained reduction in
homelessness, and more sobering news from parts of the state where more people are without housing
this year than last. I applaud the creativity and perseverance I see in all communities and organizations
that are working to reduce and end homelessness in Vermont! Every year brings a better understanding
of the factors that cause people to lose housing and the interventions that are best suited to address
them.
As you read this Point in Time Report, I encourage you to remember two more points which may not be
evident in the trends or graphs from a one-night count: First, that through the work of local
communities, thousands of Vermonters who became homeless last year, found a safe place to stay and
the resources to get back into stable housing. Those numbers aren’t included here, but those struggles
and ultimate successes were real. And, secondly, that even in areas that showed tremendous
improvements this year, we clearly have work to do. Too many Vermonters are without a place to call
home tonight, but through strong state and local partnerships that bring together those critical
components of subsidies, services and housing, we can help create new paths to opportunity, success
and housing stability.
Al Gobeille, Secretary
Agency of Human Services
3
HOMELESS PERSONS BY COUNTY
2017 POINT IN TIME COUNT
48
8
291
150
64
92
104
183
100
102
46
15
30
92
100
114
183
150
20
118
15
30
48
64
291
0
0
4
SUMMARY This report chronicles the landscape of and changes in overall homelessness, as well as breakdowns by
location of homelessness, household type, subpopulation, and county. The Annual Point in Time (PIT)
Count is an unduplicated statewide count of persons experiencing literal homelessness on a single
night in January. Vermont’s two Continua of Care (CoC)—Balance of State and Chittenden County—are
the backbone organizers of the statewide effort.1 These CoCs, along with 11 local CoCs that fall under
the Balance of State, are comprised of service & housing providers, state agencies, those with lived
experience, and other partners in Vermont’s health, homelessness, and low-income systems of care.
During the one-day count in January, 1225 Vermonters experienced literal homelessness, an
increase of 123 people, or 11%, compared to the 2016 one-day count.
A total of 852 households were counted, an increase of 59 households, or 7%, from 2016.
306 were children, representing 25% of the entire homeless population counted.
While the one-day count showed an overall increase, some areas saw striking regional
differences, including decreases in Chittenden (-12%) and Franklin (-17%) counties.
The number of unsheltered persons counted was 134, a 14% decrease from the 2016 PIT Count.
The Point in Time Count data is compiled in a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS).
Agencies using HMIS can quickly and accurately input, review, and submit data; entities not using it
miss out on these benefits. It is strongly recommended that the State of Vermont mandate that the
General Assistance Motel Vouchers and the Vermont Rental Subsidy programs use HMIS for increased
efficiency, uniformity, and accuracy in data entry, collection, and analysis.
The Count provides a valuable measure of Vermont’s homeless population; the data is used to assess
and identify housing service gaps and needs. Capturing the most vulnerable homeless population,
those “literally homeless,” it does not include those at risk of becoming homeless or those who are
“couch surfing.” Insufficient affordable housing units, housing subsidies and capacity to provide
services that fit the complex needs of persons who are homeless continue to burden homelessness prevention and intervention efforts. The $35 million housing bond proposed by the Governor and
passed by the Legislature will help immensely. However unparalleled budget cuts proposed by
President Trump, which includes elimination of entire programs, would increase homelessness greatly.
ANNUAL VT POINT IN TIME COUNT OF HOMELESSNESS: 2013-2017
1 Chittenden County CoC is known as the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance. The Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness includes both CoC.
1454 14501523
11021225
9711027 1052
770
934
483 423 471332 291
0
500
1000
1500
2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7
TO
TA
L P
ER
SO
NS
Statewide Balance of State CoC Chittenden County CoC
5
LOCATION OF HOMELESSNESS
KEY FINDINGS
The majority (89%) of homeless persons resided in an emergency shelter or transitional housing
for the homeless, but just over 1 in 10 (11%) of the homeless population was unsheltered.2
Although the statewide number of unsheltered persons decreased by 14% from the 2016 one-
day count, the number of sheltered persons increased by the same percentage. A higher
number of sheltered persons is the result of a greater need for and usage of state-funded motel
vouchers due to adverse weather conditions, including a winter storm, occurring on the night of
the 2017 count. In addition, new seasonal shelters were opened in 2017 to address local need.
Five counties experienced Cold Weather Exception conditions on the night of the Count, which
relaxes eligibility requirements for motel vouchers when temperatures drop below 20 degrees,
or 32 degrees with snow or freezing rain.
Lamoille County, which does not have a general emergency shelter, saw a drastic increase (2 to
36 households) in motel voucher usage this year, even without a Cold Weather Exception.
2 Living in a place unfit for human habitation, such as in the woods, on the street, or in a car.
Emergency Shelter
44%
Motel - Paid by AHS22%
Motel - Paid by Organization
3%
Transitional Housing for the
Homeless20%
Unsheltered11%
1078 1021 9371270 1396 1373
961 1091
142 123 223
184163 150
156134
0
500
1000
1500
2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7
TOTAL PERSONS
SHELTERED VS. UNSHELTERED
Sheltered Unsheltered
6
HOUSEHOLD TYPE
KEY FINDINGS
43% of the persons experiencing homelessness during the 2017 PIT Count were persons in
households with children, while 57% were persons in households without children.
2017 saw a 14% statewide increase of persons in households with children and a 6% increase of
persons in households without children, in comparison with 2016 numbers.
There were two unaccompanied minor households, meaning households made up children
under the age of 18 who are unaccompanied by guardians.
753 732
613
462
528
694
837881
654697
0
200
400
600
800
1000
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
TOTAL PERSONS BY HOUSEHOLD TYPE
Persons in Households with Children Persons in Households without Children
7
SUBPOPULATIONS OF HOMELESSNESS
For the following data, persons may fall under multiple subpopulation categories.
KEY FINDINGS
A 24-person decrease in Chittenden County’s chronic homeless3 count, coupled with a 24-
person increase in the rest of Vermont, produced a count of chronically homeless persons equal
to last year: 127 persons. This means 1 in 10 persons (10%) counted were chronically homeless.
o In contrast, 16% of persons reported that they had been homeless for less than one
month, 14% for one to three months, and 17% for one month to one year.
Just under half of persons (47%) were homeless for the first time.
267 persons4 (22%) reported as survivors of domestic violence, which is a 40-person increase
from 2016. This year, three service providers for survivors of domestic violence distributed
emergency housing motel vouchers on behalf of the state.
The population of homeless veterans has declined steadily since the 2013 Count, when it peaked
at 128. 2017 saw a continuation of this downward trend; 94 veterans were counted, a 15%
decrease since 2016. The coordinated efforts of veterans’ service providers across Vermont to
move this number towards functional zero5 is worthy of special recognition.
A significant portion of those who were homeless reported having a disability:
o 340 persons reported having a severe mental illness, or 28% of total persons.
o 228 persons reported having a substance abuse disorder, or 19% of total persons.
3 Comprised of persons with a disability who have experienced homelessness for a year or longer, or at least four episodes
of homelessness in the last three years (cumulative of at least 12 months). 4 This does not include children affectted, as domestic violence is defined as between intimate partners. 5 Defined as the number of veterans who are homeless being no greater than the monthly housing placement rate for veterans.
0
100
200
300
400
500
2 0 1 0 2 0 1 1 2 0 1 2 2 0 1 3 2 0 1 4 2 0 1 5 2 0 1 6 2 0 1 7
Domestic Violence Chronic Homelessness Severe Mental Illness
Substance Abuse Veterans
8
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS
This year, youth service organizations devoted more resources to the Point in Time Count, with 2017
serving as a baseline year for the Department of Housing and Urban Development to track progress
towards ending youth homelessness.6 Thus the increase in youth homelessness may reflect more
outreach, aimed at providing an accurate baseline measure. Essex and Grand Isle Counties are not
included in the graphs because they had a count of zero homeless persons.
The number of youth ages 18-24 who were homeless was 142, up from 120 in 2016. This
represents an 18% increase.
Half of youth ages 18-24 counted were in three counties: Chittenden, Rutland, and Washington.
42 youth, or 30%, reported chronic health conditions: 4 had a physical disability, 15 a
developmental disability, 18 a severe mental illness, and 5 an “other chronic health condition.”
There were 29 parenting youth households, compared to 36 in 2016.
6 Refers to youth between the ages of 12 and 24 who are unaccompanied by guardians .
8 8
30
11
5 5
1
5
21 21
1215
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
YOUTH HOMELESSNESS AGES 18-24
BY COUNTY
2
6
5
0
1
3
0
1
4
3
1
3
0
2
4
6
8
PARENTING YOUTH
BY COUNTY
9
COUNTY BREAKDOWNS
Essex and Grand Isle Counties are not included as they both had a homeless count of zero persons.
65
38
5
12 2
0
8
23
19
5
0
10
20
30
40
CHRONICALLY HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDSBY COUNTY
1523
37
313 15
0 3
2516
1119
43
28
193
20
7 11
20
5
112
9079
62
0
50
100
150
200
HOUSEHOLD TYPE
BY COUNTY
Households with Children Households without Children
10
Unless otherwise noted, the following data represents the number of persons (not households) that
experienced homelessness on the one-day January 2017 PIT count.
47
77
1
76
916
80
58
92
5
87
1724
120
0
20
40
60
80
100
ADDISON COUNTY
2016 2017
40
64
46 49
8 7 5 1
51
100
3
97
13 11 102
0
20
40
60
80
100
BENNINGTON COUNTY
2016 2017
16
28
6
22
48
41
2430
6
24
4
11
3 1
0
10
20
30
40
CALEDONIA COUNTY
2016 2017
11
247
332
62 68 68106
6031
230
291
28
263
80 8853
25
0
100
200
300
400
CHITTENDEN COUNTY
2016 2017
31
58
6
52
13 125 2
20
48
1
47
135 7
00
20
40
60
80
FRANKLIN COUNTY
2016 2017
1522
4
1812
6 60
26
64
23
41
912
9
00
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
LAMOILLE COUNTY
2016 2017
12
1921
5
12
2
10
4
12
20 20
2
18
0
12
8
15
0
10
20
30
ORANGE COUNTY
2016 2017
9
15
0
15
1 12
0
8
15
1
14
1 1 1 1
0
5
10
15
20
ORLEANS COUNTY
2016 2017
106
138
18
120
31 30 29 19
137
183
13
170
43 40 3017
0
50
100
150
200
RUTLAND COUNTY
2016 2017
13
96
117
18
99
18
42 3625
106
150
40
110
26
5039 32
0
50
100
150
WASHINGTON COUNTY
2016 2017
86
114
6
108
31 2920
11
90114
7
107
2943
25
7
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
WINDHAM COUNTY
2016 2017
81
116
12
104
3349
33
7
82
118
5
113
3243
31
3
0
50
100
150
WINDSOR COUNTY
2016 2017
14
CONTACT INFORMATION
Balance of State Continuum of Care
MaryEllen Mendl, United Ways of Vermont/Vermont 211
Peter Kellerman, John Graham Housing & Services
Chittenden County Continuum of Care:
Margaret Bozik, Champlain Housing Trust
Erin Ahearn, Safe Harbor Homeless Health Care Program of the Community Health
Centers of Burlington
Addison County – Jeanne Montross, Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects
Bennington County – Chris Oldham, Bennington County Coalition for the Homeless
Maryann St. John, BROC-Community Action in Southwestern Vermont
Caledonia & Essex Counties – Jan Rossier, Northeast Kingdom Community Action
Franklin & Grand Isle Counties – Holly Olio, Northwestern Counseling & Support Services County
Jen Stewart, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
Lamoille County – Will Eberle, Agency of Human Services
Carole Pomeroy, Department for Children & Families
Orleans County – Kathy Metras, Northeast Kingdom Community Action
Rutland County – Ashley Greenfield, Homeless Prevention Center
Washington County – Liz Genge, Downstreet Housing & Community Development
Jackie Jones, Washington County Mental Health Services
Windham South – Sue Graff, United Way of Windham County
Windsor-North & Orange Counties – Linda Anderson, Capstone Community Action
Lynn Boyle, Agency of Human Services
Windsor-South & Windham North – Tara Chase, Windsor County Youth Services