Holidays at COTS
Thank you for making the holidays special for children and families experiencing homelessness. Your generosity makes a huge difference for people in shelters.
COTS Candlelight Vigil...
Join us in City Hall Park on Dec 19th while we honor those who have passed away while experiencing homelessness. Edmund's Choir will be joining us for this somber and hopeful event.
COTS Phonathon
YOUR support during the Phonathon makes our programs and services possible throughout the year. Please donate today to keep our shelters open, our permanent housing running smoothly, and our vital services going this year!
At COTS...
We believe in the value and dignity of every human life, that housing is a fundamental human right and that emergency shelter is not the solution to homelessness.
Celebrating a New Chapter for the COTS Waystation
COTS recently marked a significant milestone in Burlington’s homeless‐services landscape: the ribbon‐cutting of the newly renovated Waystation shelter at 58 Pearl Street. With this event, COTS and its community partners opened the doors to a redesigned, expanded space aimed at providing enhanced dignity and services to adults experiencing homelessness.
COTS' Mission Statement
COTS advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness and provides emergency shelter, services, and long-term housing for people who are experiencing homelessness or are marginally housed.
Our Services
Support for those experiencing homelessness from financial assistance and emergency shelter to housing navigation and long-term housing solutions.
Our Impact
COTS is the largest provider of housing & homelessness prevention services in Vermont. Last year we helped 1,366 people, including 317 children.
159
Households
including 173 adults and 57 children, received housing and services through the COTS Housing Resource Center.
159
Individuals
stayed at the Waystation, COTS' year-round overnight shelter, and received housing and supportive services.
83
Adults
and 16 children experiencing homelessness in area hotels and motels received re-housing and support services.
166
individuals
received low
barrier overnight shelter at the Winter Warming Station from
January to May.
68
Households
including 126 children received housing support through the Family Supportive Housing program.
37
Families
including 62 children, stayed in a COTS family shelter and received housing and supportive services. Specialized programs were also offered for children.
1735
Individuals
visited the Daystation, COTS' daytime drop-in center for lunch, showers, laundry, and services.
Who is COTS?
Our leadership team and Board of Directors bring a wealth of varied experience to best serve our community.
Get Help
Receive personalized help for your immediate shelter, resources and support needs.
Give Help
Make a difference in the lives of those experiencing homelessness.
Where are we?
Our Locations
We operate 95 units of transitional housing and affordable permanent housing in the Burlington and Winooski areas to provide vital support to individuals experiencing homelessness in the area.
Want to get involved?
Ways to Give
Take action against homelessness in Vermont. We offer multiple ways for you to help support our mission.
Donate - Give online or by phone, mail, or EFT.
Wish List - Help fulfill the COTS wish list by donating hygiene items in person or on our Amazon Wishlist.
Alternative Giving - Hold a facebook fundraiser or purchase Cookies for Good to benefit COTS.
Give the gift of time...
Volunteer
You can volunteer for COTS in many ways, and we appreciate all types of skills and areas of expertise. COTS volunteer needs are constantly changing, so if you’d like to stay up to date on our volunteer opportunities, we encourage you to fill out our brief volunteer application!
We were not in the position to give a substantial amount of money, but we could give time, even if it was just a little. I love that COTS does not simply put a Band-Aid on the issue of homelessness. They help by providing specific tools.
— Jill Diemer, volunteer
To assist COTS in a small way in providing absolutely vital services to people, in a compassionate, empowering and effective manner, is a privilege that brings additional meaning and purpose to my life. In my career as a public librarian, and now as a volunteer at COTS, I focus on understanding the needs of our clients, matching them with appropriate resources and services at COTS, and doing so in a way that is welcoming and encouraging.
— Bill Talentino, volunteer
Read the Latest on Our Blog
Stay up to date on recent happenings, events, news, and more.
Celebrating a New Chapter for the COTS Waystation
COTS opens its newly renovated Waystation shelter in downtown Burlington, expanding beds and services to support adults experiencing homelessness.
Support Vermont Families Affected by the SNAP/ThreeSquares Benefit Halt
As of November 1, the federal government has halted all SNAP (ThreeSquaresVT) benefits. This sudden halt means that thousands of families across Vermont will not have access to benefits to buy food this month. At COTS, we’re doing everything we can to help our guests and neighbors through this difficult time. You can support this effort by donating grocery store gift cards. These cards help families put food on the table.