HOMEFRONT SPRING 2020 | cotsonline.org 1

John Dwyer, President & CEO of New England Federal Credit Union, presents COTS Executive Director Rita Markley with a $1 million gift to create new housing for families experiencing homelessness.

DAWN IPPOLITO

COTS helps families facing homelessness in Vermont NEFCU donates $1 million to COTS to create new housing for families

FACTS: Children & Homelessness

More than 1.5 million students nationwide were homeless during the 2017-18 school year, according to a report recently released by the National Center for Homeless Education. That is the highest number recorded in more than a dozen years. And, it doesn’t include babies, toddlers, and preschoolers.

According to the 2015 “Family Options Study,” infancy is the age at which a person is most likely to live in a federally funded emergency shelter. 45 percent of people in emergency shelters nation-wide are under the age of 6.

Roughly one in eight homeless students live in a rural community – and rural student homelessness is increasing at a rate of 11 percent nationally in the most recent data compiled by the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness.

Every day, COTS has many reasons to be grateful.

On extraordinary days, we have literally a million: In January, New England Federal Credit Union announced a $1 million capital gift to COTS to help create new housing for families facing the crisis of homelessness in our community.

“One of the many benefits of NEFCU’s growth is our ability to give back to the communities we serve,” said John Dwyer, President and CEO of NEFCU. “There is no shortage of worthy causes and pressing needs, but a place to call home is the foundation for everything else in life. Without that foundation to build on, life’s challenges can seem insurmountable.”

With this project, COTS plans to build up to 15 new units of affordable housing for families facing homelessness in our community. Creating more access to housing is a strategic goal of our organization.

This gift will “turn a wild hope, a dream, into a second chance for those who most need one. We could not be more grateful,” COTS Executive Director Rita Markley said at the announcement.

COTS’ efforts to address family homelessness are founded in our local data, echoed by national parallels and research, and rooted in the stories of the real people – parents and children – we engage with daily.

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HOMEFRONTSPRING 2020 | COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER | cotsonl ine.org

1.5+ MILLION

HOMELESSSTUDENTS

45% IN SHELTERS UNDER THE

AGE OF 6

1 in 8 LIVE IN A

RURALCOMMUNITY

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A United Way Funded Agency

The challenges we face in Vermont are similar to those faced by families across the country. In fact, “family homelessness is a national experience and a local issue” was the message at Beyond Housing 2020, a national conference hosted by the Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness in New York City in January. COTS was honored to be invited to present at the conference on the solutions we have implemented to better serve and advocate for families facing homelessness in our state.

Housing crisisIn the past three years, the average length of stay in COTS’ family shelters has increased 57 percent. This is the result of repeated families being unable to quickly find affordable and sustainable housing. Staff and guests work to overcome various obstacles and limited options with tireless effort and creative problem-solving. Yet, the reality is that there is simply not enough affordable housing to meet the need. Nationally, the last time low-income housing balanced with low-income households was 1970.

As has been the case for many years, Chittenden County has a severe shortage of affordable housing, with a rental vacancy rate of 1.3 percent. It’s also expensive with the 2019 Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom apartment in Burlington-South Burlington of $1,341 a

month, an amount that requires a renter to earn $53,123 annually ($25.54/hourly) to pay the recommended 30 percent or less on housing.

The reality is that more than 50 percent of renters in our community are “cost-burdened,” allocating more than 30 percent of their income to housing costs. And, nearly 30 percent are “severely cost-burdened,” meaning their rent is more than 50 percent of their household income.

Amid these challenges, nearly 60 percent of families experiencing homelessness in our state are “doubled up,” i.e. living with another

PO Box 1616, Burlington, VT 05402802-864-7402fax 802-864-2612www.cotsonline.org

Established 1982

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Beth Anderson, ChairTom Stretton, Vice ChairDebra Royce, TreasurerPaul Lekstutis, SecretaryAndy BohlinCatherine DingleMaree GaetaniAndrew HansonMichael H. LipsonJeff MartinKurt ReicheltShelley RichardsonBrigitte RitchieBob SteisTom Torti

Rita Markley, Executive Director

HOMEFRONTEDITOR Becky Holt

WRITERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Tamira Martel Dawn Ippolito

DESIGNER Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio

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NUMBER OF CHILDREN IN VERMONT WHO ARE HOMELESSThis graph compares the various ways we measure the number of children experiencing homelessness in Vermont:

Annual Point In Time Count: This is an annual one-night census, as defined by HUD. This count of children, parents, and unaccompanied minors does not include more than half of Vermont families who are “doubled-up” or without a fixed address.

McKinney-Vento School Count: This is yearlong count by schools of school-age children who are homeless in Vermont. This number does not include children under age 5 or parents.

HOP/OEO Annual Report: This is yearlong data collected by shelter providers and reported to the state. This number only includes children all ages) staying in state-funded shelters.

Barbara Duffield, executive director of the SchoolHouse Connection, speaks at the COTS Annual Meeting & Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast in October.

ALISON REDLICH

VOLUME 38 | ISSUE 1

HOMEFRONT is published twice a year, in March and November, by:

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family or couch surfing. Another 20 percent are living in hotels and motels, while 15 percent are staying in emergency shelters and 6.5 percent are unsheltered.

The impact of homelessness on children is critical. “Homelessness confers such risk to health and healthy child development that the American Academy of Pediatrics and others now classify it as a Social Determinant of Health,” wrote Dr. Joe Hagan, clinical professor in Pediatrics at the Larner College of Medicine of the University of Vermont, in a recent op-ed. “Social determinants can have positive effects on health, or they can be a detriment and cause harm. Having a home is protective. Not having a home is harmful.”

In an effort to reduce the negative effects of homelessness on children, COTS provides specialized services in our family shelters. Through generous private grant support, we offer our Kids in the Kitchen healthy snack and meal cooking program, Learning Lab after-school tutoring and academic support, and additional educational enrichment and activities.

Make kids countThe reality is that families are the often unseen and uncounted face of homelessness in our country.

Barbara Duffield, executive director of the SchoolHouse Connection, a national nonprofit that works to overcome homelessness through education by partnering with early childhood programs, higher education institutions, and service providers, is working to change that by spearheading a national effort to create a uniform definition of homelessness across federal agencies that includes families.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which controls access to precious housing subsidies and supports, has the narrowest definition of homelessness. While most families who are experiencing homelessness are doubled up/with no fixed address, HUD does not consider these families “homeless.” Thus, they are not counted in HUD’s annual Point in Time Census of homelessness, nor are they eligible for resources that could help stabilize these children and prevent chronic homelessness.

“Babies have not lived long enough to meet (the HUD) definition of homelessness,” Duffield said.

All other federal agencies have a more comprehensive definition of homelessness, which includes families and children. The bipartisan legislation Homeless Children and Youth Act (H.R. 2001), which COTS supports, would align federal definitions of homelessness to include some of the most vulnerable children and youth, and allows communities to use federal funds to meet local needs.

Duffield, who gave the keynote at COTS’ Annual Meeting in October, was part of the “Sesame Street” team that introduced the world to Lily, a 7-year-old Muppet who is homeless. The goal, Duffield said, was not to normalize homelessness but to ask: “What does (homelessness) look like from a child’s perspective?” Through that lens, “Sesame Street” has explored

WHERE DO VERMONT HOMELESS FAMILIES SLEEP?DOUBLED-UP: Most families (nearly 60 percent of Vermont families and 75 percent of families nationally) who experience homelessness are “doubled-up,” i.e. living with another family or couch surfing. These families, however, are not considered “homeless” by HUD and are not included in the annual PIT count.

Source: National Center for Homeless Education

15.2% shelter/transitional housing/awaiting foster care

20.2% hotels/motels

6.5% unsheltered

58.1% doubled-up/ no fixed address

Lily is the first Muppet to experience homelessness. Her story is told in a series of videos, interactive materials, and stories.

RICHARD TERMINE, Sesam

e Workshop

the anxiety and instability that children often feel when experiencing homelessness, creating educational materials and resources for parents, children, teachers, and service providers, like COTS.

The partnership with “Sesame Street” also has brought broader attention to what family homelessness actually looks like. The Muppet Lily’s story reflects a familiar reality: Her family experienced instability, undergoing multiple transitions, including shelter and doubling up, while homeless.

Thanks to our generous supporters, COTS will continue to meet the emergency needs of Vermont families experiencing homelessness today, while we collaborate with local and national partners to work on long-term solutions to ending homelessness through prevention and access to housing, like the new project in which NEFCU has graciously invested.

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We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us…

Annual MeetingEvery fall volunteers and supporters are recognized for their contribution to COTS at our Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast held at the First Congregational Church in Burlington. This year those attending the celebration enjoyed a delicious breakfast thanks to generous donations from; Mirabelle’s Café, Great Harvest Bread Co., Feldman’s Bagels, Hannaford Supermarkets, The Bagel Café & Deli, Willows Bagels, West Meadow Bakery, City Market, Starbucks, Cookies for Good, and Cabot Creamery Co-operative. Donations also included table linens from Sodexo, and festive floral centerpieces from Chappell’s Florist.

ThanksgivingWe would like to thank Cassie Bombard & Friends, John, Anna, Maxine and Erika Senft Miller, the Blue Star Mothers, the Regular Veterans Association Post 514, the State of Vermont Department of Vermont Health Access and the American Legion, who donated turkeys, Thanksgiving dishes and/or desserts to create special celebrations for our guests.

Prizes for our volunteers were donated by A Single Pebble, Al’s French Frys, Danforth Pewter of Vermont, Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop, The Essex, Flynn Center for the Performing Arts, Monkey Do, Lunaroma, Trader Joe’s, Starbucks, Trapp Family Lodge, David’s Tea, The Vermont Lake Monsters, Target, Vermont Teddy Bear Company, The Skinny Pancake, Oil n Go, The Windjammer, Turtleshell, and Shelburne Museum.

Books, Toys, Treats & MoreMany generous supporters ensured children and families in COTS shelter and services enjoyed the season. In addition to individual donors:

City Market hosted its 22nd annual Tree Sale for COTS in December, selling more than 662 trees from Moffatt’s Tree Farm in Craftsbury. Nearly 100 volunteers, staffing nearly 200 shifts, made the successful event that raised $13,400 possible. This year, COTS partnered with the Intervale Center on a #GivingTuesday promotion of the tree sale: For every person who donated to both COTS and the Intervale on that day, a tree in the spring will be planted in that person’s name. The promotion was also designed to raise awareness that City Market’s Rally for Change in December supports the Intervale Center – so if you buy a tree for COTS, the Intervale will plant a tree in the spring.

Intervale Center donated pumpkins for our Halloween Party for children staying in family shelter.

Montstream Studios donated beautiful seasonal cards for us to send to supporters.

Hearts to Soles once again donated new shoes for Daystation guests and James D. Michelson, M.D.’s University of Vermont Medical Center Orthopedic Team offered their time and expertise giving foot-health assessments at the Daystation. Doug Shaw, an orthotist at Orthoteknics in Williston, also donated his time and expertise.

COTS PhonathonMany generous community partners provided support to help energize and motivate more than 250 volunteers for the annual Phonathon. New England Federal Credit Union provided a generous Challenge Grant for the Phonathon, and WOKO-FM partnered with us on the radio to help share success stories and encourage listeners to call in their pledges. We would also like to thank our nightly sponsors; Northfield Savings Bank, Pizzagalli Properties, and SD Ireland.

Dinners were donated by American Flatbread, Leonardo’s, Sugarsnap Catering, El Cortijo, Bluebird Barbecue, and La Villa Bistro. Snacks and drinks were offered by Speeder & Earl’s, Costco, Vermont Cookie Love, Feldman’s Bagels, and Cabot Creamery.

The Daystation received a tree from Whites Christmas Tree Farm and wreaths were donated by individuals to COTS’ family shelters and the Waystation.

Marketplace Fitness donated four, monthlong memberships to help keep guests healthy.

United Church of Colchester, Vermont Information Processing, Inc., Gordon’s Window Décor, Vermont Systems, Inc., Bogner of America, Homebridge, Synergy Dance, the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, and Vermont Refugee Resettlement donated new toys, games, gift cards and craft supplies for children in COTS shelter and services. In addition, many individual donors donated toys and gift cards.

Students and faculty from Vermont Day School donated “Birthday Boxes” (boxes filled with cake making supplies) for our families in shelter as part of their Martin Luther King Day service projects.

Love & Blessings donated gifts and a Christmas Day meal for guests at the Daystation. Students at Rick

Edmunds Elementary School choir, under the direction of Betsy Nolan, prepares to sing at the COTS Candlelight Vigil in December.

DAWN IPPOLITO

Tracie Carlos of Love & Blessings delivers gifts and lunch on Christmas Day to guests at the Daystation.

BECKY HOLT

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Marcotte Central School donated cookies and cards for our guests. First Congregational Church of Burlington donated handmade ornaments, and fourth-graders at Chamberlin School made friendship bracelets for children in family shelter.

The Dee PT Great Diaper DriveDee Physical Therapy’s 12th Annual Great Diaper Drive of 2019, spearheaded by Jason Fitzgerald, brought in a whopping 211,000 diapers! The donated diapers and baby wipes will help ease the financial burden on families, making it easier for them to save toward housing goals. Hundreds of individuals, organizations and businesses came together to help make this donation drive such a huge success.

Leonardo’s Pizza once again donated their delicious pizza for the kickoff event at Dee Physical Therapy in South Burlington.

Seventh Generation, Inc. donated more than 110,000 diapers to get the drive started with gusto!

UVM Men’s Ice Hockey Team, fifth-graders at St. Albans Town Educational Center, and employees

Essex Center United Methodist Church, Faith United Methodist Church, FoodScience Corporation, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and The Optical Center organized donation drives to collect toiletries for our guests such as soap, shampoo, sunscreen, razors, etc. Ursa Major and CVS donated signature personal care items.

Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, First Congregational Church of Burlington, UVM Lab Clinical Chemistry, and Essex Alliance held drives to donate critical supplies from COTS Wish List.

Winter essentials like gloves, hats, mittens, and scarves were donated by dozens of caring individuals, groups, and businesses such as Green Mountain Multisport and Must Love Yarn. The New England Patriots Foundation donated Patriots-branded coats and sleeping bags for our guests.

Walmart, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hilton Burlington Lake Champlain, Heartworks, and American Legion Unit 91 Auxiliary collected supplies to put together dozens of “Move-In Kits” to help households moving into permanent housing get off to a great start.

from Geri Reilly Real Estate and NorthCountry Federal Credit Union helped organize mini diaper drives to help us reach our goal.

Booska Movers, Bouchard-Pierce Appliance and Kitchen & Bath and employees from IBM donated their equipment and time to help move thousands of diapers from our donated warehouse space (thanks, Samantha) in South Burlington out to COTS programs as well as to our community partners for distribution throughout our area.

Wish List & Donation DrivesWe received several boxes filled with children’s clothes from Carters and Osh Kosh B’Gosh. Advanced Math and Science Academy, Mission Hope, Pine Forest School, Qgenda, Irving Oil, and April Cornell donated a variety of much-needed, new clothing like: pajamas, T-shirts, and pants for our guests’ use.

We received generous donations of soap from Chasworth Farms throughout the year.

St. John Vianney Church made an enormous donation of gift cards along with toiletries, bedding, and a large amount of household items.

Karen Bose provided dozens of handmade pillowcases for our guests to complement the generous donations of blankets from Pebbles VT Crafts and New England Federal Credit Union.

Gadue’s Dry Cleaning partnered with COTS to dry clean winter coats and blankets from multiple donation drives this past fall and winter.

Norwich University’s Men’s Ice Hockey Team hosted a sock drive at their homecoming game where Darn Tough Socks donated hundreds of cozy, locally-made socks. These much-needed socks were added to a significant donation from Hanes along with donations from Bombas Socks and Howard Resource Center to provide more than 2,500 pairs of socks for our guests to use this past winter season.

Unique Fundraisers & EventsHomeschoolers of Chittenden County dropped off proceeds and baked goods from their annual bake sale for COTS.

1st Republic Brewing, Co. and Highball Social held special events during the holidays with a portion of their proceeds benefiting COTS.

Furchgott-Sourdliffe Gallery, Jess Boutique and Juniper Bar and Restaurant made generous donations to COTS as a result of special promotions during the holidays.

Many thanks to Colchester High School Hockey Boosters where they raised funds and collected items from COTS’ Wish List to benefit our guests during their annual Beech Memorial Hockey Tournament.

Fourth-graders from Founders Memorial School in Essex invited COTS to their school to learn more about the crisis of homelessness

Jason Fitzgerald of Dee Physical Therapy visits with the broadcaster at the University of Vermont hockey game against Boston College. UVM Hockey partnered with Jason to promote this year’s diaper drive. continued on page 6

DAWN IPPOLITO

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COTS WALK:

Get startedRegister online now at cotsonline.org – as an individual or team. Or call us at 802-864-7402, Ext. 207. Then set a fundraising goal for yourself. Collect pledges from friends, co-workers, family members and neighbors.

Take the “Challenge”Did you know that for about $1,000 we can prevent a family from ever becoming homeless? To help keep a family housed, please take the COTS Walk Challenge this year, and make a commitment to raise $1,000 or more for COTS as an individual or $2,500 as a team. If you reach your goal, an anonymous donor has generously provided a Challenge Grant to match your donations! Walkers who meet the challenge also receive special recognition and awards at our Annual Meeting in the fall. (You can learn more by visiting cotsonline.org.)

Be a Team Captain: Don’t do it alone! Form a team, and walk with friends, co-workers, neighbors, or family members. Show your team spirit, and have fun.

Show school spirit: College, high school, middle and elementary school teams are getting ready for COTS Walk 2020. Make sure your school is there, too! The Walk can also help you:• Fulfill community service requirements (if you

participate and raise $150, you can earn 10 hours of community service);

• Enhance your resume or transcript for college applications;

• Expand on your leadership skills.

Make a donation: Even if you are unable to participate, consider pledging a walker. The Walk is one of COTS’ largest annual fundraisers. Almost 50 percent of our budget comes from community support – and the Walk is one of the most important ways we raise money and awareness in our community.

Spread the word• Create your own fundraising page at give.cotsonline.org/

COTSWalk2020 and collect online donations from family and friends. (Find a link on the COTS’ Web site, too.)

• Gain support and tell others about the Walk via email, Facebook, Instagram and more. Using social media, it’s easy to spread the word and raise money.

• Get up-to-date information at www.cotsonline.org. • Be sure to follow COTS on social media, too.

We provide ongoing Walk updates.

and housing insecurity to help them prepare for their activism at the Vermont Statehouse on Homeless Awareness Day in January.

Green Mountain Chorus made a generous donation as a result of their annual Singing Valentine event.

Ri Ra’s collected dozens of winter coats and gloves for COTS at a special event sponsored by One Warm Coat Foundation in late February and the band Wallows hosted a donation drive to benefit COTS during their concert at Higher Ground in March.

In December, Rusty DeWees (below) hosted a presentation of “The Logger” to delight Daystation guests, and artist Rebecca Kinkead was “in residence” for several days at our Daystation program creating custom portraits of our guests.

Burlington Choral Society’s annual “Messiah Sing” event resulted in a generous donation to support COTS.

Daystation LunchBurlington Public Schools, the Burlington Technical Center Culinary Arts Students, the University of Vermont Ski Team, Champlain College, UVM Enactus/Rotaract, and the UVM Ophthalmology Group, Wake Robin, Sherpa Foods – Nurbu Sherpa, Mountain Mamas, Colchester Milton Rotary Club, Burlington Parks and Recreation, and Engineers without Borders volunteered and donated lunch at the Daystation. Lunches also have been provided regularly by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, College Street Congregational Church, All Souls Interfaith, and Love and Blessings Ministry, as well as several individuals, families, and teams of co-workers. Costco regularly donated gift cards for our Daystation lunch program.

Donations directly benefit our shelter guests and Vermonters who use our services to turn their paths away from the crisis of homelessness and toward long-term stability. We are able to reach more people because of your support – thank you!

Kindergarteners at Vermonts Day School play COTS’ version of giant Jenga, with COTS Development Director Becky Holt. Each block features a real-life scenario from families who sought COTS’ assistance. Together, these blocks create a picture of the challenges that cause a family to fall into home-lessness. As the children carefully remove each block, they begin to realize that sometimes there are no good moves left – much like many families who turn to COTS for support.

IT TAKES ALL OF US...continued from page 5

COURTESY OF VERMONT DAY SCHOOL

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Days at the Daystation Artist Rebecca Kinkead shared her two most memorable experiences from her week in the COTS Daystation, painting portraits of guests, staff, and volunteer:

“The first were the stories that people shared with me while we sat together,” she said. “I was prepared to feel like an outsider and treated with some suspicion, which I would expect in any situation. People sat and shared their stories and journeys. There was a lot of laughter and kindness, and I almost immediately felt accepted into the community at the Daystation.

“The second most memorable part was experiencing the strong sense of community at COTS. I ended the week feeling an overwhelming sense of gratitude for the humanity I was so privileged to witness while I was there.”

Upcoming Exhibit: Rebecca Kinkead“Downtown Middlebury Portrait” April 15-June 22 Henry Sheldon Museum

Opening reception: April 24, 4:30-6:30 pm

Hello, neighborCornwall artist paints people of COTS into her projectCornwall painter Rebecca Kinkead visited the COTS Daystation for a week in January as an artist-in-residence.

During her week, Kinkead created 63 portraits of guests, volunteers, and staff, each painted in 20-minute sittings. She chatted comfortably with her subjects while exploring her visual impression of the person in front of the easel – incorporating topics they chose to discuss, how they communicated, and other cues – and freezing that sense in oil paints on the 5” x 7” canvases.

“I like to chat with each person while we are sitting together. It puts me at ease and allows my mind to drift into a more creative state (I hope!). It also helps me in capturing a person’s energy,” Kinkead said. “People from all backgrounds have opened up and shared their personal stories with me (often a complete stranger to them) during the sittings. This was completely unexpected and profoundly moving.”

Kinkead’s residency at the Daystation was one chapter in a much larger project, called “Neighbor,” that Kinkead began in August.

In her artist statement, Kinkead described “Neighbors” as “a project

about relationships. The ephemeral, the fixed … our collective stories as global neighbors. It is an experiment. I cannot predict the outcome, but I am grateful, always, for your support and willingness to share yourselves in this journey.”

In addition to COTS, the chapters of “Neighbors,” so far, have included Kinkead’s literal neighbors, friends, fans from Boston, and visitors to downtown Middlebury.

“I believe as humans we all crave connection regardless of gender, socio-economic background, ethnicity, etc. It’s in our DNA,” Kinkead said. “I am hopeful that the intimacy of the sitting, the collaborative nature of the projects, and the finished piece with the portraits hung together, edges touching to create a single work of art provide a powerful opportunity for connection.”

Kinkead’s upcoming chapters include travels to Provincetown, Mass., and to a girls’ school in Gambia this summer.

“The further I go, the more I believe in it,” she said. “Something remarkable happens each time. I find my belief in the human spirit and the importance of art are reinforced again and again.”

DAWN IPPOLITO

DAWN IPPOLITO

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 896Burlington, VT

COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTERPO Box 1616Burlington, VT 05402-1616802-864-7402 www.cotsonline.org

31st Annual COTS WalkThis year’s theme is “One world. Many journeys home.” We are incorporating “globes” into the Walk as a symbol of this unity. There will be globes along the route featuring the stories that individuals and families traveled to find home.

Each year, we work with about 2,300 people, including individuals, families, children, veterans, and people who are elderly or disabled. COTS offers an array of services, including emergency shelter, housing, services, and homelessness prevention and rehousing.

The Walk is our largest event each year to raise money to support these services and increase understanding about homelessness. Our goal is to raise $235,000!

Through the support of our sponsors, all the money raised by Walkers goes directly to providing services for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

See page 6 for how to GET STARTED.

Join us! Sunday May 3Registration: 1pm Walk begins: 2pm Battery Park Burlington

STEPHEN MEASE

Things to remember:The COTS Walk is something you can do today to end homelessness.

Every dollar raised by Walkers supports shelter, services, prevention and housing for people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.

The COTS Walk shows your donations at work: The Walk is a 3-mile trek around downtown Burlington, following the route a person who is homeless might take to connect with COTS shelters and services.