Chittenden County

Two local nonprofits, the Champlain Valley Office of Economic Opportunity and Champlain Housing Trust, are seeking a 12,000-square-foot space in Chittenden County to open a 100-bed year-round emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness. The proposed low-barrier, congregate shelter would serve as a triage center, addressing a growing need as tent encampments increase and existing cold-weather shelters operate only seasonally.

Vermont's Act 170, signed into law as H.955, mandates school district merger study committees and cooperative educational service areas (CESAs) by 2026, but lacks efficiency targets, oversight, and accountability mechanisms. Critics argue structural gaps, such as conflicting CESA and merger group boundaries, could undermine savings potential, despite identified $9M-$10M in back-office savings for Chittenden County districts.

Kevin Bloom, a music studio operator with no law enforcement background, challenges Dan Gamelin, a former deputy with over 40 years of experience, in the Chittenden County sheriff Democratic primary. Bloom criticizes traditional sheriff duties and seeks to redirect the role toward unpaid public service, while Gamelin emphasizes expanding his department's size and revenue.

The Burlington-area rental market is cooling, with a 3.3% vacancy rate in Chittenden County as of June 2026, leading to lower rents and landlords offering incentives. Factors include ending pandemic-era rent stabilization programs, slower remote work migration, and a surge in new apartment construction.