A Middlebury Union High School student slept outside for the first time at age twelve; it wasn’t a camping trip. Before getting into foster care, the same student showered, slept, and ate at a different person’s house every night. There were periods of time when he could not get food and went hungry for days.

By the definition of a leading advocacy group, anyone inhabiting motels or hotels for long periods of time; seeking refuge in emergency or transitional shelters; or living in parks, public spaces, or any place unsuitable for human residence, is considered homeless. Given these ever-changing conditions, many students experiencing homelessness have a hard time focusing in school. The unpredictability in their lives is harmful to their growth, development and ability to learn. 

The student mentioned at the top of this story, who asked to remain anonymous, said he didn’t try as hard in school because he had to worry about more important things: when his next meal would be, where to find shelter; and what would happen tomorrow. 

In its State Report Card on Child Homelessness, the National Center on Family Homelessness ranks Vermont number one in the nation for homelessness awareness and prevention. However, Assistant Principal Cathy Dieman said there are six students from the high school this year who have been, or currently are, homeless. Dieman explained that “most often they double up and live with friends or relatives, and live in campers in a campground.” 

According to the Vermont Coalition to End Homelessness, on any given night about 88 children in Vermont are sleeping in a shelter. Many reports show that after natural or man-made disasters, homelessness spikes. 

This year, Tropical Storm Irene left hundreds in Vermont without homes and for a long time many did not have the money to rebuild their homes. Homelessness has also increased over the last couple years due to the recession, which has hit virtually everybody in the country. Data collected from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics show that Vermont’s unemployment rate has gone up from 2.4 percent in 2000 to 5.3 percent in 2011. In the last three months, Vermont's unemployment has decreased by six-tenths of a percent. Vermont is doing considerably more than other states to reduce the unemployment rate and the number of homeless people.     

Organizations such as the Vermont Department for Children and Families, Job Corps, United Way, Adult Learning, and many others have programs from housing assistance and medical assistance to education and child support. Some organizations like Adult Learning offer evening classes for adults who want to earn a high school diploma. 

The Congregational Church holds weekly community suppers on Friday nights, and the Charter House has lunches Tuesdays through Thursdays. Anyone is welcome and homemade food is provided by different organizations each week. Middlebury College has a Civic Engagement program where students can volunteer at the local emergency housing, the Charter House. 

The Charter House was designed by a coalition of human service and social service workers, along with Middlebury residents. It is staffed by volunteers 24 hours, 7 days a week. Community members are welcome to sign up to volunteer.

A counseling service helped the student in this story find a foster home, helped with the application process to apply for a job, and gave him a cell phone. The student is now in a foster family who is supported by the state. However they are not his legal guardians. Middlebury Union High School has allowed the student to be enrolled and gives him two free meals a day. 

It is sometimes hard to believe that in a town such as Middlebury there are citizens who are without homes. However, it is great to live in a state where people are working hard to end homelessness and, as a result, the numbers are slowly decreasing.