Homeless Shelters, Emergency Housing and Help for People Who Are Homeless

This page has a list of housing programs and shelters in Vermont. It also has phone numbers for people who can help you get housing or keep housing. Also, you will find links to resources for food and other help you may need if you are homeless.

Need help to get or keep housing?

As part of a Coordinated Entry System, dozens of local organizations are working together to help those who are experiencing homelessness – or are at risk of homelessness. They can help you find housing and get connected to support and resources in the community. Contact the lead agency in your area to get connected.

Emergency housing in Vermont

• Looking for a safe place to sleep tonight? Call 2-1-1 to find a shelter near you.
• The Department for Children and Family’s (DCF) Economic Services Division offers emergency assistance / emergency housing for homeless households. For more information or to apply, contact the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151. Or call the DCF Emergency Housing line at 1-800-775-0506. If it is after business hours or on a weekend or holiday, call 2-1-1. When you apply for shelter with DCF, they will let you know if a shelter bed or motel room is available.
• If you stay in a shelter or motel, you may have to participate in “coordinated entry.” Through coordinated entry, you will be assigned a housing case manager who will help you access subsidies and programs to help you get permanent housing. To learn more about coordinated entry, call 2-1-1.
• If you are denied or terminated from a shelter, subsidy or emergency housing, fill out our form and we will call you back. Or call us for help at 1-800-889-2047. Be sure to give us some details about your problem. Give us as many details as possible about how to reach you. Your information will be sent to Legal Services Vermont, which screens requests for help for both Vermont Legal Aid and Legal Services Vermont.
• Vermont Legal Aid is hosting a new weekly event: A free legal advice clinic for emergency housing issues.
• Veterans can get housing help from the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program at 1-844-820-3232 (toll-free); the National Call Center for Homeless Veterans at 1-877-424-3838 (toll-free); or Vermont Office of Veterans Affairs at 1-888-666-9844 (toll-free). Vermont Veterans facing eviction or foreclosure should contact the South Royalton Legal Clinic at VLGS for advice and help.

Hotel / motel emergency housing program

Learn more about Vermont’s hotel / motel program and recent rule changes.

News:

• The Vermont Human Services Board recently ruled that emergency housing nights before July 1, 2025, do not count towards the 80-day maximum. If you have been denied emergency housing by Economic Services because you have used 80 days of emergency housing, AND you have not used 80 days since July 1, 2025, you can appeal. Follow this link to see what steps you can take to appeal.
• Vermont Legal Aid is hosting a new weekly event: A free legal advice clinic for emergency housing issues.
• Were you in the Transitional Housing Program in 2023? Was your security deposit withheld? It’s not too late to get it back!

Cold weather / winter emergency housing

See what special rules apply from December 1, 2025, until March 31, 2026, in Vermont.