Vermont Business Magazine Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak announced that the City will open an extreme cold weather shelter in partnership with the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) at the Miller Center at 130 Gosse Court in response to the dangerously cold weather forecasted this week. After reviewing weather modeling in consultation with the City’s Emergency Management Director, officials have determined the forecasted temperature on Thursday, January 1st meets the City’s criteria for operation of an extreme cold weather shelter.
Hours of operation will be Thursday, January 1st at 5pm to Friday, January 2nd at 8am. The National Weather Service is currently forecasting evening temperatures diving well-below zero with windchill on Thursday evening, into the early morning hours on Friday.
Transportation will be provided to the Miller Center, beginning at 4:30pm and 5pm, from 95 North Avenue (Cots Daystation) and the Fletcher Free Library. The emergency cold weather shelter will be low barrier, and pets are allowed.
The State of Vermont defines an extreme cold weather emergency using a threshold of –10 degrees Fahrenheit with the windchill factor. The City is acting to open additional shelter based on a number of factors, including current estimates of over 200 people sleeping unsheltered in the region, with many rough sleeping; lack of seasonal shelter capacity; and the State motel program being at capacity.
The City and CVOEO are working in partnership to ensure safe operation of this emergency shelter, and we are appreciative for the funding support of the Vermont Agency of Human Services and Vermont Interfaith Action.
Please share the attached flyer with shelter details, updated to include operation on Thursday evening. Please reach out to Sarah Russell, Emergency Services Director at CVOEO at 802-829-5679 or [email protected] with any questions.
About Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity
The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) is a nonprofit on a mission to end poverty in Addison, Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle Counties. Through its 12 on-the-ground programs, CVOEO addresses economic, social, racial, and environmental justice issues with the shared goal of helping people achieve economic independence. CVOEO relies on support from federal, state, and local governments, foundations, corporations, individual donors, and volunteers. With a dedicated staff of more than 300 employees, supported by a network of passionate volunteers and community partners, CVOEO follows a client-centered approach to serving over 23,000 Vermonters every year.
Learn more about CVOEO, its mission, impact, and programs at cvoeo.org.
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