Celebrating a New Chapter for the COTS Waystation

On Monday, October 27, 2025, the COTS 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.

For more than four decades, the COTS Waystation has served as a nightly refuge for single adults, operating at its former location with 36 beds and limited amenities. As homelessness and the complexity of needs in Chittenden County continued to grow, it became clear that a refreshed facility was essential.

In January 2025, COTS acquired the 7,361-square-foot former Social Security building at 58 Pearl Street, a move that enables roughly three times the space of the prior facility. Working with community input, COTS embarked on a capital campaign to raise approximately $2 million for the renovation.

At the ribbon cutting ceremony, COTS Executive Director Jonathan Farrell took the stage, cutting the ribbon amid applause. The atmosphere was one of celebration, but also of conscious acknowledgement that this is a step, not the finish line.

The newly configured Waystation brings a host of upgrades designed around dignity, privacy, and supportive services:

• Capacity for up to 56 guests, nearly doubling the prior number. 

• Six additional walk-in spots for nights of extreme weather. 

• Dorm-style sleeping areas grouped into 14 rooms of up to 4 guests each, affording more privacy than older large bunk rooms.

• Six private bathrooms with showers. 

• On-site laundry, kitchenette/dining area, secure storage lockers, and meeting rooms for caseworkers or partner agencies. 

• ADA accessibility and trauma-informed design features.

Farrell emphasized that the renovations were guided by direct input from guests and staff: “We tried to transform it into a calming environment … so that our staff can come in and help people get on their feet, into working on their next steps to housing.” 

• More beds, greater reach: With capacity up to 56, COTS can serve more adults each night, which matters critically given the winter months ahead. 

• Improved dignity & environment: Moving beyond a purely “roof over your head” model, the design underscores privacy, comfort, and access to wrap‐around supports. 

• Better alignment with services: The space is designed to accommodate partner agencies (medical, recovery, case management) directly on site, breaking down service silos. 

COTS plans to move its current 36-bed adult shelter on Church Street into the new location in the coming weeks. The Church Street building will then be converted into subsidized housing, furthering the continuum from shelter to permanent home. 

While this milestone is significant, COTS underscores that homelessness in Burlington remains a deep and urgent challenge. As such, the expanded Waystation represents not an endpoint but a launchpad for deeper work in housing access, prevention, and community collaboration.

In Summary
The ribbon cutting at the COTS Waystation on October 27, 2025 marks an exciting and hopeful chapter for Burlington’s response to adult homelessness. With expanded space, improved amenities, and a design centered on dignity and services, COTS is stepping up to meet the moment. Yet, as leaders reminded the audience, this is not the finish line, it’s a critical piece of a longer journey toward ensuring that everyone in our community has a safe place to sleep and the supports they need to rebuild their lives.