Candidates: homelessness in Montpelier is a regional challenge; city can coordinate services and provide basic facilities

Montpelier City Council candidates at a Rotary forum described homelessness as a multifaceted regional issue and suggested steps the city could take to coordinate services and address immediate needs.

Candidates said the city cannot solve homelessness alone and stressed partnership with nonprofits, faith-based groups and regional providers. Mark Gwynn said residents “deserve to feel safe, and the unhoused in Montpelier are human beings, and their dignity must be respected,” and argued any municipal approach must address basic human needs.

Speakers pointed to local volunteer-driven efforts — such as Good Samaritan and the Unitarian Church’s shelter work — and encouraged better coordination, volunteer training, and expanded access to basic infrastructure: public restrooms, showers and secure lockers. Ben Doyle said volunteers running overnight shelters “don’t have training or the capacity to deal with really challenging situations,” and called for the city to help convene and resource service providers.

Jim Sheridan, who spoke about a period he spent unhoused, said services should encourage personal responsibility and opportunities to contribute; he suggested offering showers and requiring clients to help maintain facilities as part of their participation. Candidates also noted a forum-cited statistic that homelessness in the area rose sharply in the prior year — a 312% increase reported in the statewide count referenced during the forum.

No single municipal program or funding commitment was announced in the forum transcript; candidates urged city-led coordination of partners, basic-service facilities and training to support volunteer-run responses.