Vermont's Homeless Population Surges Over 300% Since 2020 Amid Housing Crisis

An individual traveling across the United States recently characterized Burlington, Vermont's homelessness situation as the "single worst" they had personally witnessed globally. This anecdotal observation, shared by "Mr. S.T.A.R." in a tweet, aligns with alarming official data revealing a dramatic surge in the state's unhoused population, placing Vermont among those with the highest per capita homelessness rates in the nation.

According to the 2024 Point-in-Time (PIT) count, 3,458 individuals were experiencing homelessness across Vermont, marking a 5% increase from the previous year. This figure represents an over 300% increase compared to pre-COVID levels in 2020, when 1,110 unhoused people were recorded. Chittenden County, where Burlington is located, accounts for nearly 25% of the state's total unhoused population, underscoring the acute local challenge.

A primary driver of this escalating crisis is the significant scaling back of the state's General Assistance Emergency Housing Program, often referred to as the motel/hotel program. This program, which temporarily housed thousands during the pandemic, now faces new restrictions, including an 80-day limit on stays and a cap of 1,100 available rooms. As of August 2024, these changes left over 300 families unhoused, according to the Department of Children and Families.

The crisis is further exacerbated by soaring housing costs and an extremely tight market throughout Vermont. Between 2023 and 2024, home prices in the state surged by 12.8%, the highest increase nationwide and nearly double the national average. In Chittenden County, persistently low vacancy rates, hovering around 1%, contribute to housing being largely unaffordable for many residents, with waitlists for subsidized housing stretching for months.

Burlington officials are actively seeking solutions, with Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak calling on state leaders to provide more emergency shelter space. The city has taken steps to support those displaced, including offering temporary campsites for unhoused families. Compounding the issue, data from the 2024 PIT count indicates a stark racial disparity, with Black Vermonters being 5.6 times more likely to experience homelessness compared to white residents.

While Vermont's robust temporary shelter system contributes to its elevated official homelessness count due to better tracking, the overall number of unsheltered individuals is also on the rise. The confluence of policy changes, an acute housing shortage, and economic pressures highlights the urgent need for sustained investment in affordable housing and comprehensive support services to address the state's deepening homelessness crisis.