New Recovery Shelter Opens in Burlington to Address Addiction Homelessness

Read the full article at nationaltoday.com. Below is an excerpt.

The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Howard Center have opened a new recovery-focused shelter called the Bridges Recovery Shelter in downtown Burlington, Vermont. The 10-12 bed shelter will provide clinicians, recovery group meetings, and peer-to-peer support for unhoused individuals seeking to maintain sobriety, addressing what organizers call a 'real gap' in the local homeless services system.

Why it matters

Many existing homeless shelters in Vermont have 'low-barrier' policies that allow substance use, making it difficult for those in recovery to maintain sobriety. The new Bridges Recovery Shelter aims to provide a more supportive environment for those working on their recovery from addiction while experiencing homelessness.

The details

The Bridges Recovery Shelter is the first of its kind in Chittenden County and one of just a few in the state. It will be operated by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) in a building owned by the Howard Center, a mental health and substance use services nonprofit. The shelter will take referrals from other local shelters to help open up spaces for those leaving unsheltered homelessness. If residents relapse, staff will work with them and may temporarily place them back in a low-barrier shelter before allowing them to return to Bridges.

• The Bridges Recovery Shelter opened on Monday, March 9, 2026.
• CVOEO plans to start taking referrals to the shelter this week.