Health & Human Services

Food Resources:

Colchester Food Shelf: 245 Main Street, Colchester, (802) 879-2444 - Open Wed Noon - 6 PM

Chittenden County Food Shelf: 228 North Winooski Ave, Burlington, (802) 658-7939 - Open M – F, 9 AM – 3:30 PM

Commodity Supplemental Food Program offers free monthly boxes of staple foods to income-eligible adults over the age of 60. Call 1-800-214-4648 or find info at: https://www.vtfoodbank.org/share-food/csfp

WIC offers healthy food and support if you are pregnant or a parent or caregiver for a child under the age of 5. Call 2-1-1 or click the above link to find more information or to check if you qualify for WIC.

3SquaresVT (known nationally as SNAP) is available when you need a little help buying food. The program provides Vermonters funds on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card. EBT cards can be used to purchase food at grocery and convenience stores, co-ops, and many farmers markets. Call 1-800-479-6151. If you need assistance with your application please contact (855) 855-6181.

Mental Health Resources:

First Call for Chittenden County serves clients and the community regardless of age or diagnosis. Trained staff is available 24/7/365, regardless of the type of service. Call for phone support, crisis intervention and assessment, referrals to appropriate services, and connection to follow-up care. Call (802) 488-7777.

Mental Health: How to Get Help is sponsored by the Vermont Agency of Human Services.

Crisis Text Line – Text "VT" to 741741 and a trained crisis counselor will respond within 5 minutes.

Suicide Prevention - Dial 988 for the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline). Trained counselors are available 24/7.

VT Suicide Prevention Center – If you are thinking about suicide or are worried about someone else, this center will help you find help now.

Health Resources:

Dr. Dynasaur is low-cost or free health coverage for children, teenagers under age 19 and pregnant women. A list of services and services that may have limitations can be found on the Dr. Dynasaur homepage. To find out if you are eligible for coverage, go to Vermont Health Connect.

The Immigrant Health Insurance Plan (IHIP) is a new, State of Vermont-funded health care program intended to support the health and well-being of immigrant children under age 19, pregnant and post-partum individuals who are not eligible for Medicaid (partly federally funded), and those who are otherwise uninsured. They must live in Vermont, or at least be seasonally employed here, and meet the eligibility rules for the program. IHIP covers doctor visits, prescriptions, dental care, and hospital stays.

Vermont 211 is a confidential 24/7 helpline that connects Vermonters with community, health, and human services. Visitors can search in the Community Resource Directory for over 3,000 programs including afterschool programs, food pantries, tax preparation, subsidized housing, veterans’ resources, disability services, debt counseling, mental health services, bus information and much more.

Housing:

HomeShare Vermont creates compatible matches between those who have room in their home with people seeking an affordable place to live. HomeShare hosts can ask for rent and/or help with household tasks. For guests, this is an affordable option to renting. You can learn more about homesharing and the screening and matching process at www.HomeShareVermont.org or by calling (802) 863-5625.

ANEW Place serves adults 18 or older who are transitioning out of homelessness. By providing initial shelter, help with finding employment, and counseling, ANEW Place helps people secure permanent housing and stability via their four-step program. Learn more at: https://anewplacevt.org or call (802) 862-9879.

Cathedral Square provides housing for seniors and citizens who need extra support and/or special accommodations. These housing communities are accessible, affordable, and are suited for people with different needs. Cathedral Square offers independent living communities as well as communities where more assistance is provided. Learn more at: https://cathedralsquare.org or call (802) 863-2224.     

Champlain Housing Trust provides low-cost apartments to qualified Vermonters, subsidized rental housing, and cooperative housing. Eligible buyers can also participate in Champlain Housing Trust's shared-equity program which allows buyers to save on the cost of a down payment and take out a mortgage at a reduced rate. Champlain Housing Trust has rental properties in Chittenden, Franklin, and Grand Isle counties and serves Vermonters statewide. Visit Champlain Housing Trust's website: https://www.getahome.org/ or call (802) 862-6244.

Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity (CVOEO) has programs to provide food, housing, and support to individuals in times of need. CVOEO can provide emergency shelter, help secure permanent housing, aid in alleviating food insecurity, and help residents and landlords improve the energy efficiency of their homes. Visit CVOEO's website: https://www.cvoeo.org or call (802) 862-2771.

Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) serves individuals as well as families and children who are experiencing housing insecurity. COTS provides transitional housing and affordable permanent housing in the Burlington and Winooski areas. COTS can also help with applications for rental subsidies and other local housing assistance programs. Visit COTS' website: https://cotsonline.org or call (802) 864-7402.

Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity is an organization that builds and sells homes in the area by partnering with donors and local volunteers. Qualifying Vermonters will help build their own house alongside volunteers and in the end will have an affordable place to call home. Learn more about Green Mountain Habitat for Humanity: https://vermonthabitat.org or call (802) 872-8726.

Vermont State Housing Authority (VSHA) is a resource providing Section 8 housing and other programs to support people with unstable housing situations. VSHA manages mobile home parks and apartment complexes that house residents qualifying for rental assistance programs. Visit VSHA's website: https://www.vsha.org/ or call (802) 828-3295.

Vermont Department of Children and Families can provide temporary housing in emergency situations. Individuals who have lost their housing due to inability to pay, a natural disaster, and other related circumstances may qualify for temporary housing in a hotel room. Visit the Department of Children and Families' website for more information: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/crisis-housing or call the Emergency Housing Line at 1-800-775-0506. For after-hours service, call 211. 

Physical Abuse or Violence:

Vermont Network Against Domestic & Sexual Violence is Vermont’s leading voice on domestic and sexual violence. Our members are 15 independent, non-profit organizations which provide domestic and sexual violence advocacy to survivors of violence in Vermont.

               Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-228-7395

               Sexual Violence Hotline: 1-800-489-7273

Steps to End Domestic Violence is a program which supports survivors of domestic violence with their various programs. Steps to End Domestic Violence provides a 24/7 hotline, shelter and housing, legal support, support groups, and much more. Learn more about what this organization does here: https://www.stepsvt.org/home or call (802) 658-1996 for the 24/7 Hotline.

Poisoning:

Northern New England Poison Center: The Northern New England Poison Center is your source for fast information and expert advice. Whether you’ve taken too much medicine, spilled a chemical on your skin or just have a question, we are here for you 24/7. Call 1-800-222-1222 or visit the website at the link above.

Children’s Environmental Health: Understanding the potential health hazards in our environment—such as lead in paint, contaminants in water, chemicals in children’s products, and pollutants in indoor air—is the first step to ensuring a healthy environment for children. Parents, expecting parents, caregivers and child care providers can learn about potential environmental hazards to children and best practices for preventing exposure.

Alcohol and Drug Abuse:

Howard Center's Substance Use Recovery Services: Whether you are trying to quit a substance for the first time or whether you've tried several times before, we're here to help. We offer a variety of services and programs for substance use recovery, including counseling, residential programs, and short and long-term treatment.

How Do I Know if I Have a Substance Use Disorder? There are several signs that may indicate that you have a substance use issue. You may find that your use of alcohol or drugs interferes with being able to fulfill your obligations at work and at home. Or you may spend much of your time thinking about how you are going to get alcohol or drugs.

Our compassionate and skilled staff will make sure you get the help you need. You can call (802) 488-6000 to get started on the path to recovery from substance use.

VTHelplink.org offers free and confidential alcohol and drug support as well as referral services.

              VT Helplink - call (802) 565-LINK (5465)

Opioid Overdose Prevention and Naloxone Rescue Program: The Health Department provides naloxone (Narcan®) and training through collaborations with community-based organizations. These partners distribute naloxone and provide overdose response training, opioid misuse prevention training, and referrals to treatment across Vermont.

Quit Smoking:

Visit 802Quits.org for free help so you can quit smoking today.

The U.S. federal government collects corporate, payroll, and other taxes for many purposes including, health, social and human services as well as housing and food services. The federal government provides many of these services or access thereto, through agreements with state governments, including the State of Vermont. States, including Vermont, also collect funding through taxes for these services as the federal funding often covers only a portion of the resources provided.

These services are then delivered by the state directly or through organizations funded by the state including non-profit entities.