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Montpelier volunteers say rotating church shelters cost more, strain volunteers and meet serious medical needs
Summary
A Montpelier volunteer organizer told the House Human Services committee that rotating emergency cold-weather shelters across three churches have filled staffing gaps but cost roughly twice as much as hotel vouchers; organizers reported hospital-level medical needs among guests and stressed training and single-room options for people with substance-use or neurodevelopmental needs.
Bethann Mayer, who coordinates Montpelier's rotating emergency cold-weather shelters, described to the House Committee on Human Services how congregations and community partners have stood up nightly shelters to fill gaps this winter.
Mayer said the Montpelier network has relied on volunteers who take four-hour shifts and that the operation moved between three churches to provide continuous overnight coverage. "We were sheltering 40 people" on some nights last season when a seasonal overnight shelter also operated, she said. This winter…
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