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Committee on Temporary Shelter

EIN 03-0285606 · Burlington, VT

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood79 out of 100GovernanceStrong100 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

COTS PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER, SERVICES, AND HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS OR MARGINALLY HOUSED IN VERMONT. COTS ADVOCATES FOR LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO END HOMELESSNESS.

Income
$4.4 million
Spending
$4.6 million
Spent on programs
79%
Reserves
29.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 52%
Employees
80
Volunteers
500
Highest pay
$123,104, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 66% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    35 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 29.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 3% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    4 of 15

    Spending exceeded income by 5% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    79% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 14 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 70% of charities in its peer group (housing, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    16 of 16 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $899,369 spent. IN THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR, 36 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 64 CHILDREN, STAYED IN COTS' EMERGENCY SHELTERS. EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES: THE FIREHOUSE FAMILY SHELTER (OPENED IN 1988, FULLY RENOVATED IN 2021) AND MAIN STREET FAMILY SHELTER (OPENED IN 2002) PROVIDE SAFE AND DECENT SHELTER FOR 15 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. FAMILIES CAN STAY FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS WHILE THEY WORK WITH COTS STAFF TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, CHILD CARE AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES. GUESTS BENEFIT FROM TRAUMA INFORMED SPACE DESIGN AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS DURING THEIR STAY. THE COTS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ADVOCATE WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN SHELTER TO ENSURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL THROUGH SCHOOL, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND SUMMER CAMP PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH ADOVCATE,PROMOTES CHILDREN'S HEALTHY SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS. IN THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR, 36 FAMILIES, INCLUDING 64 CHILDREN, STAYED IN COTS' EMERGENCY SHELTERS. EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR FAMILIES: THE FIREHOUSE FAMILY SHELTER (OPENED IN 1988, FULLY RENOVATED IN 2021) AND MAIN STREET FAMILY SHELTER (OPENED IN 2002) PROVIDE SAFE AND DECENT SHELTER FOR 15 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN. FAMILIES CAN STAY FOR UP TO SIX MONTHS WHILE THEY WORK WITH COTS STAFF TO FIND AFFORDABLE HOUSING, EMPLOYMENT, CHILD CARE AND HEALTH CARE SERVICES. GUESTS BENEFIT FROM TRAUMA INFORMED SPACE DESIGN AND PROGRAM ELEMENTS DURING THEIR STAY. THE COTS CHILDREN'S EDUCATION ADVOCATE WORKS WITH CHILDREN AND PARENTS IN SHELTER TO ENSURE SUCCESS IN SCHOOL THROUGH SCHOOL, AFTER-SCHOOL, AND SUMMER CAMP PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE, AND THE CHILDREN'S MENTAL HEALTH ADOVCATE,PROMOTES CHILDREN'S HEALTHY SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT, AND STRENGTHEN FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS.
  2. $978,719 spent. IN THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR, COTS HELPED 112 HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING FINANCIAL CRISIS AVERT HOMELESSNESS AND STAY IN THEIR HOUSING OR MOVE INTO STABLE HOUSING. THE HOUSING RESOURCE CENTER OFFERS ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT AT-RISK HOUSEHOLDS FROM LOSING THEIR EXISTING HOUSING DUE TO UNFORESEEN CIRCUMSTANCES AND TO ASSIST THOSE WHO ARE WITHOUT PERMANENT SHELTER MOVE INTO STABLE HOUSING. LONGSTANDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH A NETWORK OF LOCAL LANDLORDS HELPS TO FACILITATE SUCCESSFUL CLIENT TRANSITIONS INTO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC HOUSING. THE HRC OFFERS GRANTS WITH RENT AND SECURITY DEPOSITS.
  3. $1.0 million spent. IN THE 2024 FISCAL YEAR, 142 INDIVIDUALS STAYED IN COTS' OVERNIGHT SHELTERS, AND 1603 INDIVIDUALS VISITED THE DAYSTATION. EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR SINGLE ADULTS: THE WAYSTATION (OPENED IN 1982) IS A 36-BED OVERNIGHT SHELTER FOR MEN AND WOMEN, AGE 18 AND OLDER. THE DAYSTATION (OPENED IN 1988) IS A DAYTIME DROP-IN CENTER OFFERING REFUGE FROM THE STREETS, WHERE A NOONTIME MEAL IS SERVED. THESE FACILITIES ARE OPEN 365 DAYS A YEAR.
  4. $739,632 spent. MOTEL OUTREACH: 242 HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS WERE OFFERED SUPPORT SERVICES WHILE STATYING IN STATE-FUNDING EMERGENCY MOTEL ROOMS. SUPPORT SERVICES: ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO ALL OF COTS' CLIENTS. 60 HOMELESS FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE STAYING IN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR IN THE COMMUNITY, RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM COTS STAFF. 154 SINGLE, HOMELESS ADULTS RECEIVED OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FROM COTS STAFF. TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING: THE SMITH HOUSE (OPENED IN 2002)PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS MOVING OUT OF SHELTER WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE SMITH HOUSE HAS SEVEN SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY UNITS, PLUS TWO PERMANENT APARTMENTS, AND A FULL-TIME RESIDENTIAL MANAGER. CANAL STREET VETERANS HOUSING (OPENED IN 2011) PROVIDES 29 UNITS OF PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH PRIORITY PLACEMENT FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE WILSON (PURCHASED IN 1984) AND ST. JOHN'S HALL (PURCHASED IN 1991) TOGETHER PROVIDE 44 SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) UNITS AND FOUR APARTMENTS: PERMANENT HOUSING FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND VETERANS.
  5. MOTEL OUTREACH: 242 HOMELESS HOUSEHOLDS WERE OFFERED SUPPORT SERVICES WHILE STATYING IN STATE-FUNDING EMERGENCY MOTEL ROOMS. SUPPORT SERVICES: ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT SERVICES ARE OFFERED TO ALL OF COTS' CLIENTS. 60 HOMELESS FAMILIES, INCLUDING THOSE STAYING IN EMERGENCY SHELTER OR IN THE COMMUNITY, RECEIVED SUPPORT FROM COTS STAFF. 154 SINGLE, HOMELESS ADULTS RECEIVED OUTREACH AND SUPPORT FROM COTS STAFF. TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING: THE SMITH HOUSE (OPENED IN 2002)PROVIDES INDIVIDUALS MOVING OUT OF SHELTER WITH TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE SMITH HOUSE HAS SEVEN SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY UNITS, PLUS TWO PERMANENT APARTMENTS, AND A FULL-TIME RESIDENTIAL MANAGER. CANAL STREET VETERANS HOUSING (OPENED IN 2011) PROVIDES 29 UNITS OF PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE HOUSING WITH PRIORITY PLACEMENT FOR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THE WILSON (PURCHASED IN 1984) AND ST. JOHN'S HALL (PURCHASED IN 1991) TOGETHER PROVIDE 44 SINGLE-ROOM OCCUPANCY (SRO) UNITS AND FOUR APARTMENTS: PERMANENT HOUSING FOR FORMERLY HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS, AS WELL AS LOW-INCOME SENIOR CITIZENS AND VETERANS.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending September 30, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending September 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since December 1984.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.