Emergency Shelter Program

Good Samaritan Haven’s Emergency Shelter Program serves hundreds of our homeless neighbors each year. We currently operate facilities in Berlin, Barre, and Barre Town.

We fulfill guests’ basic needs by providing food, clothing, toiletries, and laundry facilities–all 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.

If you need shelter:

If you are seeking shelter at any of Good Samaritan Haven’s locations, you must call between 7:00AM and 3:00PM, Monday through Friday. Good Sam shelter staff will no longer perform intakes with individuals seeking shelter beds outside of the stated hours of admission.

Call Good Sam’s Intake Coordinator at 802-479.2294.

During the call the Intake Coordinator will review your eligibility criteria to determine whether you are a candidate for the shelter. If you meet Good Sam’s established eligibility criteria, and if a bed is available, you will meet with the Intake Coordinator in person between the hours of 7:00AM – 3:00PM to do intake paperwork and orient to the space and settle into the shelter. If for some reason the Intake Coordinator is unavailable, a Shelter Manager may perform the eligibility review and intake processes during the above stated hours.

If you need camping equipment, please call the Good Sam Street Outreach Team at 815.714.8686.

Eligibility:

Good Samaritan Haven welcomes those in need of emergency housing. We will do our best to share housing, food, and housing assistance resources to help guests and treat them with decency and respect. Guests of Good Samaritan Haven must meet the following eligibility criteria:

  1. Must be homeless* and in need of emergency housing
  2. Must be an adult (age 18 or over). Minors are not eligible. 
  3. Must be ambulatory (capable of basic self-care like bathing, dressing, and feeding oneself)  
  4. Must be in good standing with Good Samaritan Haven and law enforcement (without warrant or house arrest)
  5. Must not be unduly under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol at the time of admission as determined by Good Samaritan Haven 
  6. Individuals who are listed on the Vermont Sex Offenders Registry are ineligible for housing across all of our locations

Individuals seeking a bed are required to meet with Good Samaritan Haven staff as soon as possible to determine their eligibility through completion of GSH’s Intake Assessment Procedure. If a person does not meet the criteria above, Good Samaritan Haven staff may offer a referral to Economic Services (7:45 AM-4:30 PM) or 2-1-1 (after 4:30 PM) for help.

*Homeless as defined by the Department of Housing and Urban Development.  See the definition at the following website:  homeless definition

Our Shelter Network

Welcome Center

The Good Sam Welcome Center, located at 1571 US Route 302 in Berlin, opened in July 2022. This emergency shelter provides 18 trauma-informed rooms with 35 beds and a welcome center for rest, essentials, and helpful service connections. Guests are at an advantageous location near a bus stop on a main corridor between the county’s two population centers (near grocery stores, a health clinic, the hospital, and many other businesses).

Downstreet Housing partnered with Good Samaritan Haven in the development of the project. Washington County Mental Health Services, Capstone Community Action, Family Center, and Turning Point Center of Central Vermont are service partners. Thanks to significant funding from Vermont Housing and Conservation Board and generous donors, Good Samaritan Haven was able to purchase the property.

Seminary Street

In 1986, Good Sam began shelter operations at its 105 N. Seminary Street location in Barre. It offers accommodation for up to 20 individuals in dormitory-style room, each with 3-5 beds. The facility is equipped with on-site bath, shower, and laundry facilities.

Guests at the Seminary Street house share common spaces, including a living/dining area and a kitchen. Each person is provided limited storage area to keep personal belongings secure. An evening meal is provided daily.

This shelter operates year-round, every night, from 6:30 PM until 7:00 AM. In cases of extremely cold weather, we may extend the shelter’s opening hours to ensure the safety and comfort of those seeking refuge.

South Barre Road

In 2021 we opened a 13-bed residence at 580 South Barre Road in Barre Town.

In 2023 this house transitioned into the first recovery-oriented shelter in Vermont, certified by the Vermont Alliance of Recovery Residences. Today, it is home to folks who are committed to sober living.

There are eight double occupancy rooms, and bath, shower, and laundry facilities are on site. Guests share a spacious living room, dining room, and kitchen and have some personal storage space. Guests must provide their own meals. Limited regular transportation to downtown Barre is provided daily.

Good Sam is leasing the property from our partner, Downstreet Housing & Community Development, whose mission is to strengthen the communities of central Vermont by engaging with people, providing affordable homes, and connecting people to the resources and services they need to thrive.

We are also very glad to have the support of the Barre Town selectboard.

Skip to content