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Homelessness Response

At a glance

  • What: the city's response to homelessness, raised by residents at each fall meeting and as part of the strategic plan's community safety discussion.
  • Where it stands: no formal action. On 2026-10-14 Stephen Whitaker criticized what he called a lack of city action after recent deaths among unhoused people, and the mayor announced a coming vigil.
  • Next: councilors were asked to send suggestions on public safety and homelessness to the City Manager (see Community Safety Priority Area).

Details

  • 2026-09-23: Zack Hughes raised concerns about rhetoric on mental health institutionalization in the homelessness context and invited the business community to the Homelessness Committee meetings. The City Manager touched on the homeless locker discussion and the 148 State Street discussion status.
  • 2026-10-08: Colonel Jim Baker presented a model effort to assist unhoused people in Brattleboro.
  • 2026-10-14: Stephen Whitaker spoke on the homelessness crisis and recent deaths among the unhoused. Mayor Marc Gwinn noted a coming vigil focused on the recent passing of members of the unhoused community.

Spring 2026 meetings

  • 2026-04-29 special meeting (items 2026-181, 2026-182, 2026-184): a Council session devoted to homelessness. The planned executive session with VLCT counsel on encampment policy was not held because Councilor Jim Sheridan would not vote for it. Presentations came from the Central Vermont Situation Table, the Emergency Cold Weather Shelter, Washington County Mental Health, Good Samaritan Haven, the City Manager, the State's Attorney and the Police Chief. Councilor Cary Brown's motion for a May 8-10 shelter MOU with Capstone carried 5-0 (see City Hall Basement Shelter). The Council listed proposals to examine (Community Resource Officer, loitering policies, picnic tables and benches, authorized camping locations, mobile health units, housing funds, partner agencies, short-term rental rules) and directed the City Manager to schedule an executive session with counsel on authorized camping (2026-04-29 - City Council (special)).
  • 2026-05-13: Councilor Adrienne Gil's motion to add an urgent agenda item on the encampment policy failed 4-1 (it needed unanimous approval; Councilor Brown opposed). Councilors agreed homelessness should be a standing item at every regular meeting. Zachary Hughes reported for the Homelessness Committee, and Councilor Brown asked that the committee report more often. The City Manager described picnic table placement talks, referrals to the regional situation table, and an analysis of using City Hall for sheltering (2026-05-13 - City Council).
  • 2026-05-27 (item 2026-211): update from the City Manager and Mr. Hughes with Dawn Little and Peter Kelman participating; no action. Stephen Whitaker raised the right to assemble on public property and facilities for the unhoused (2026-05-27 - City Council).

Earlier meetings

  • 2026-07-08 (item 2026-263): City Manager Curry updated the Council; comments came from Peter Kelman, Stephen Whitaker, Dave Bellini, Dawn Little, Kim Ward, Carlton Anderson and Nancy Smith. No action. Earlier in the meeting Zack Hughes spoke on the Homelessness Committee's work, its recommendations and communication with the Council, and the mayor thanked committee members for their volunteer service; Whitaker raised encampment policies and legal concerns about recent Council actions (2026-07-08 - City Council).

  • 2026-07-22 (item 2026-300): the City Manager gave an update; Matt Jelacic took part and Whitaker commented. No action. In general business, Carlton Anderson, who described himself as homeless, thanked the council and manager, asked for patience and calm, thanked Another Way for help after he lost his phone, and suggested the city look at pedestrian issues and the placement of benches and trash cans (2026-07-22 - City Council).

  • 2026-08-12 (item 2026-320): the City Manager gave a homelessness update; no action. Stephen Whitaker spoke and, in general comment, criticized the Council's handling of the issue.

  • 2026-08-26 (items 2026-335 and 2026-336): Councilor Jim Sheridan moved to appoint Jay Voorhees to the Homelessness Committee (seconded by Councilor Ben Doyle) and to appoint Nancy Reid (seconded by Councilor Sal Alfano); both carried unanimously. An update followed with no action. In general comment, Dave Bellini cited Front Porch Forum posts from women reporting harassment by homeless persons, and Mr. Whitaker spoke on enforcement; Councilor Cary Brown and the Mayor also commented on those posts.

  • 2026-09-09 (item 2026-360): City Manager McNicholas-Kury said the city is looking at several properties for a winter shelter and a permanent emergency shelter. The Unitarian Church asked to extend its memorandum of understanding to use the downstairs space at City Hall as an emergency shelter; the Council directed her to present a draft MOU. She was awaiting a Homelessness Committee recommendation on using city lockers for people to secure belongings.

  • 2026-06-10 (items 2026-229 and 2026-231): Evelyn Prim and Matt Jelacic gave a homelessness update; no action. Stephen Whitaker spoke on the issue later in the meeting (2026-06-10 - City Council).

  • 2026-06-24 (item 2026-242): City Manager Kelly McNicholas-Kury updated the Council; no action. Public comment came from Mr. Whitaker, Nancy Smith, Zack Hughes, Peter Kelman, Carlton Anderson, Dawn Little and Mary Messier. Harold McGrath had earlier raised homelessness and open container violations in general comment (2026-06-24 - City Council).

  • 2026-07-06 (item 2026-272): executive session, after Councilor Ben Doyle's required finding (seconded by Councilor Cary Brown, unanimous), on the homeless encampment policy and the city's liability for encampments, the East State Street right-of-way survey (see East State Street Right-of-way) and probate litigation, and on Chapter 11 of the city code: Article 7 (morals and conduct) and Article 8 (drinking in unlicensed places), plus possible panhandling and sit-and-lie ordinances, under 1 VSA 313(a)(1)(E) and (F). Councilor Sal Alfano moved; the Mayor's friendly amendment invited attorneys, consultants and staff by topic, including Mr. Jelacic and the City Manager for encampment liability and the morals and conduct ordinances. Carried unanimously as amended. The Council exited at 8:19 PM on Councilor Jim Sheridan's motion, seconded by Councilor Adrienne Gil. No public action followed (2026-07-06 - City Council).

Sources

Log

2026-05-27 - City Council

  • Update with no action; public comment on rights to assemble and facilities.

2026-05-13 - City Council

  • Urgent agenda addition failed 4-1; homelessness to be a standing agenda item.

2026-04-29 - City Council (special)

  • Special session on homelessness; temporary shelter MOU authorized 5-0; year-round assessment requested.

2026-07-06 - City Council

  • Executive session on encampment policy and liability and on the morals and conduct, drinking and sit-and-lie ordinances; no action.

2026-06-24 - City Council

  • Update from the City Manager with seven commenters; no action.

2026-06-10 - City Council

  • Update from Evelyn Prim and Matt Jelacic; no action.

2026-07-22 - City Council

  • Update from the City Manager; no action.

2026-07-08 - City Council

  • Update with seven commenters; committee communication raised; no action.

2026-09-09 - City Council

  • Shelter sites under review; draft MOU with the Unitarian Church requested; locker recommendation pending.

2026-08-26 - City Council

  • Two Homelessness Committee appointments (unanimous); update; public comment on safety posts.

2026-08-12 - City Council

  • Update from the City Manager; no action.

2026-10-14 - City Council

  • Public comment on deaths among unhoused residents; vigil announced.

2026-10-08 - City Council (special)

2026-09-23 - City Council

  • Homelessness Committee invitation; locker and 148 State Street status noted by the City Manager.

  • 2026-11-02 - Homelessness Committee - Agenda: approve October 19 minutes, hear Ramsey Pap of Capstone Community Action, updates. Minutes not posted.

2026-11-12 - City Council

  • Agenda item 2026-411, Homelessness Committee status: staff proposes pausing the committee until the strategic plan "community safety and wellbeing" pillar is set; a replacement council liaison may be named. The 2026-11-23 committee meeting is subject to this proposal.