Emergency Shelter Program

[lead]Good Samaritan Haven is central Vermont’s only homeless shelter, providing housing and support services for people experiencing homelessness in our community. [/lead]shelter2[blockquote size=”third” align=”right”]Good Samaritan Haven is a place where people are served with dignity in their time of need. [/blockquote]

Good Samaritan Haven’s Emergency Shelter Program serves approximately 250 of our homeless neighbors each year. It is the only homeless shelter in Washington, Lamoille, and Orange counties. The shelter has a thirty bed capacity with 19 male and 11 female beds.

The Emergency Shelter Program provides basic needs such as food, clothing, toiletries, and laundry for all guests free of charge through generous community donations. A wide range of case management services are also provided to help guests gain employment, apply for benefits, engage in treatment, and find stable housing.

Hours of Operation

The Emergency Shelter Program is an overnight shelter. It is open from 6:30 PM to 7:00 AM each night. Exceptions apply in extreme cold weather.

Emergency Shelter Program Expectations

An individual may be provided with up to seven days of emergency shelter, which can be extended to one month, if appropriate, after an assessment with a trained staff person. Clients may stay for up to ninety days if they are working toward housing goals and meeting the following program expectations:

  • Guests are expected to participate in chores to help ensure the facility is presentable at all times.
  • Guests are expected to address barriers to housing including mental health, employment, and substance use.
  • Guest are expected to save 30% of their income towards housing.
  • Guests working less than 25 hours per week are expected to complete weekly job search logs.
  • Guests are expected to complete benefit applications for which they may be eligible.
  • Guests are expected to actively work towards stable housing and to complete all housing applications for which they may be eligible.

Week 1: Orient and Assess: A Housing Barriers Assessment is conducted for all guestswithin three days of entry to identify linkage to appropriate housing intervention (Prevention, Transitional Housing, Rapid Re-Housing, Permanent Housing or Permanent Supportive Housing). The Assessment informs the housing stability plan by looking at history, barriers and personal goals, skills and assets. All assessments are conducted by a trained assessor. Guests are assigned a Housing Case Coordinator with three days of entry.

Weeks 2-4: Refer and Plan: Guests work with their Housing Case Coordinator the first month to develop an individualized housing stability plan. Referrals to appropriate services will be made based on assessment, prioritization, and eligibility to help clients address barriers to housing.

30-90 Days: Strengthen and Stabilize: Clients will continue to work towards stable housing, employment, benefits, and other resources. The goal of the Emergency Shelter Program is to help clients move on to stable housing in less than ninety days. A length of stay beyond ninety days must be approved by the Executive Director and must include a signed “Extension Request” with Housing Case Coordinator recommendations.

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