2025 Vermont State of Homelessness Report reveals scope of homelessness

Read the article at VermontBiz.com. Below is an excerpt.

Vermont is in the midst of a humanitarian crisis, according to a new statewide report released today by the Housing and Homelessness Alliance of Vermont, Chittenden County Homeless Alliance, and the Vermont Balance of State Continuum of Care. The report shows record-breaking numbers of unsheltered homeless residents and a homelessness response system overwhelmed by demand and undercut by funding cuts and affordable housing shortages. The 2025 Vermont State of Homelessness Report, released today, paints a stark and urgent picture of a state at a moral crossroads.

“This report makes one thing clear - we’re at a breaking point,” said Sarah Russell, Special Assistant to End Homelessness for the City of Burlington and Co-Chair of the Chittenden County Homeless Alliance. “While communities continue to work diligently to secure permanent housing for our neighbors, our rates of homelessness are not reducing. Shelters are overwhelmed, and temporary solutions are being dismantled faster than permanent ones are built. Without bold, immediate action, more Vermonters will be pushed into crisis.”

On a single night in January 2025, 3,386 Vermonters were identified as experiencing homelessness, including 633 children and 215 seniors over the age of 65, according to the state’s federally mandated Point-in-Time (PIT) Count. This number marks a more than 200% increase in homelessness since 2020.

“The numbers speak for themselves,” said Paul Dragon, Executive Director, Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO). “This crisis is the direct result of long-standing policy failures and underinvestment in affordable housing and homelessness prevention services. We are witnessing the human cost of those decisions.”

The report highlights that Vermont’s shelter system is operating well beyond its capacity. The state’s current shelter capacity is just 602 households - a small fraction of the need. Meanwhile, Vermont’s only statewide emergency housing backstop - the General Assistance Emergency Housing Program - has seen deep cuts, now serving just 1,017 people, down from more than 2,200 in March.

“We continue to do all we can to support people in need, but our shelters are at capacity, staff are working tirelessly, and the demand for services continues to rise,” said Taylor Thibault, Co-Chair of Chittenden County Homeless Alliance. “The pandemic showed us that when Vermont prioritized basic dignity and well-being, it made a meaningful difference. As we look ahead, we hope to see policies that reflect the current reality - recognizing that housing supports health, fosters stability, and upholds human dignity.”