BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Downtown Burlington straddles two realities. Its green spaces are hangouts for yogis and young professionals but also dens of open drug use. Locally owned shops outnumber chain stores but are falling victim to brazen theft. The Flynn theater attracts top-tier performers, but at night, unhoused people seek refuge under its brightly lit marquee.
The economic engine of Vermont, the Queen City, has never been spared from homelessness, addiction, and crime, but the challenges have worsened in recent years. More than 300 people are living rough in the greater Burlington area, more than ever before. Record overdose rates, fueled by fentanyl, have overwhelmed first responders. While Burlington pursues long-term solutions, residents and workers are learning to live with the new normal.