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COTS Program Of Service

Committee On Temporary Shelter COTS Programs of Service
The Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) is a private, nonprofit corporation that has been serving the homeless since 1982. The mission of COTS is to provide emergency shelter, services, and housing for people who are without homes or who are marginally housed. COTS advocates for long-term solutions to end homelessness.

Each year, the agency serves over 1,600 homeless children, women and men through its emergency shelters and service programs. COTS using a Continuum of Care model--taking care of people's basic needs first, then helping them to find jobs and affordable housing. Their programs include:

EMERGENCY SHELTERS

• The Waystation is a 36-bed overnight shelter serving approximately 500 individuals annually. It is open every night at 6 p.m. (Opened in 1982)

• The Daystation is a day-time drop-in center that is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week. The program serves as the central location for all outreach and support services to homeless individuals and families. (Opened in March, 1988)

• The Firehouse Family Shelter is a 24-hour shelter housing up to five families at one time. About 75 families take refuge here each year; about half the individuals served are children. There are an average of eight families on the waiting list. (Opened in July, 1988)

• 278 Main Street is COTS newest shelter for families. This 200-year-old brick home located in downtown Burlington can shelter up to 10 families with children. Families can stay there for up to four months while they search for decent, affordable housing in the area.

• The Rental Opportunity Center is a partnership between COTS and the Burlington Housing Authority (BHA). This program connects appropriate candidates with landlords who accept Section 8 vouchers (a federal housing subsidy). Landlords are able to list their apartments for free with the Housing Search Specialist, who then works with the landlord to find a qualified tenant. COTS and BHA are committed to serving landlords and tenants alike. Since opening in 1999 this innovative program has helped nearly 600 homeless families and individuals find a safe, decent, and affordable home. COTS and BHA launched the project in April, 1999. In 2000 the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the project a "Best Practice" for its success. (Click HERE for details.)

• The Streetwork Program is a referral and counseling program that operates out of the Daystation (see above). COTS Streetwork is affiliated with the Homeless Healthcare Project, a program provides primary medical care, maternal and child health care, dental care, and substance abuse counseling. The agencies involved include COTS, Howard Mental Health, Champlain Drug and Alcohol Services, Visiting Nurses Association, Vermont Department of Health, and Community Health Center. (Program initiated in 1984)

• Families in Transition is a community-based program that provides support services to newly housed and homeless families. This program also provides many services to homeless children on site, including arts classes and workshops on personal safety, and works collaboratively with area schools to ensure the continuity of every child's education. (Program begun in August, 1994)

• St. John's Hall offers 18 single rooms and four one-bedroom apartments for the formerly homeless and working poor. Rent is set at 30 percent of a tenant's income, allowing them to save money and move to their own apartment one day. (Opened in February, 1991)

• The Wilson Hotel is a 22-unit Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residence for homeless single adults. Like St. John's Hall (see above) tenants pay only 30 percent of their income for rent. (Opened in August, 1984)

• The Smith House provides two 2BR apartments for families, seven SRO units for single adults and one efficiency for a live in manager. (Opened June, 2002)