New Recovery Shelter Opens in Burlington to Address Addiction Homelessness

The Bridges Recovery Shelter will provide clinicians, recovery support, and a sober environment for unhoused individuals in recovery.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Howard Center have opened a new recovery-focused shelter called the Bridges Recovery Shelter in downtown Burlington, Vermont. The 10-12 bed shelter will provide clinicians, recovery group meetings, and peer-to-peer support for unhoused individuals seeking to maintain sobriety, addressing what organizers call a 'real gap' in the local homeless services system.

Why it matters

Many existing homeless shelters in Vermont have 'low-barrier' policies that allow substance use, making it difficult for those in recovery to maintain sobriety. The new Bridges Recovery Shelter aims to provide a more supportive environment for those working on their recovery from addiction while experiencing homelessness.

The details

The Bridges Recovery Shelter is the first of its kind in Chittenden County and one of just a few in the state. It will be operated by the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) in a building owned by the Howard Center, a mental health and substance use services nonprofit. The shelter will take referrals from other local shelters to help open up spaces for those leaving unsheltered homelessness. If residents relapse, staff will work with them and may temporarily place them back in a low-barrier shelter before allowing them to return to Bridges.

  • The Bridges Recovery Shelter opened on Monday, March 9, 2026.
  • CVOEO plans to start taking referrals to the shelter this week.

The players

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO)

A nonprofit organization that will operate the new Bridges Recovery Shelter.

Howard Center

A mental health and substance use services nonprofit that owns the building housing the new Bridges Recovery Shelter.

Sandy McGuire

CEO of the Howard Center.

Sarah Russell

Emergency services director for CVOEO.

Paul Dragon

Executive Director of CVOEO.

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What they’re saying

“We know there is a real gap in our system. People complete residential treatment and have few stable and recovery-focused places to go. Others are working hard on their sobriety in environments that make that work even harder.”

— Sandy McGuire, CEO of the Howard Center

“Witnessing someone who is trying very hard to maintain recovery in an environment that is just not as supportive as it could be to them, is absolutely heartbreaking.”

— Sarah Russell, Emergency services director for CVOEO

“We are going to make sure we don't put people back on the street, and then they can have an opportunity to come back in when they're ready.”

— Paul Dragon, Executive Director of CVOEO

What’s next

The Bridges Recovery Shelter is awaiting certification from the Vermont Alliance for Recovery Residences, which would make it the second certified recovery shelter in the state.

The takeaway

This new recovery-focused shelter in Burlington aims to provide a much-needed supportive environment for unhoused individuals working to maintain sobriety, addressing a critical gap in Vermont's homeless services system.