Shires Housing

Emergency Rental Assistance

Vermont Emergency Rental Assistance Program (VERAP)

erap.vsha.org; 833-488-3727

This statewide program to help those who’ve suffered a financial hardship related to the COVID pandemic to cover rent is coming to an end. As of Oct. 1, 2022, new applications are no longer being accepted. Participants receiving rental subsidies such as Section 8 are no longer eligible, but existing participants who do not have rental subsidy will continue to receive reduced rental and utility assistance based on income until funding is gone.

Reach Up Emergency Rental Assistance

dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/reachup/RUERA; AHS.DCFESDReachUpERA@vermont.gov

Those enrolled in a Reach Up program who have been directly or indirectly financially impacted by the pandemic may be eligible for emergency rental assistance through DCF’s federal stimulus funds. Applicants can receive up to 15 months of assistance to cover rent, future rent, and past-due rent incurred on or after March 13, 2020, as well as a security deposit required to secure a unit. 

Shires’ Food Assistance

In partnership with the Vermont Foodbank, Shires Housing oversees 6 food distributions each month:

11 am First Wednesday of Every Month

Serving Residents First

Brookside Apartments, Brookside Drive, Bennington

10 am First Thursday of Every Month (note recently changed from 11 am)

Open to All

Orchard Village Apartments, 89 Applegate Drive, Bennington

9:30 am Second Tuesday of Every Month

Serving Residents First

Butterfield Commons, Butterfield Drive, West Dover

10:30 am Second Wednesday of Every Month

Serving Seniors First

Meadows Apartments, Behind Shaw’s, Manchester

11:30 am Third Thursday of Every Month

Serving Residents First

Walloomsac Apartments, Walloomsac Road, Bennington

9:30 am Fourth Monday of Every Month

Open to All

Whitingham VeggieVanGo, Twin Valley High School, Whitingham

Food & Clothing Assistance

Bennington County Food System Asset Map 

bcrcvt.org/bennington-county-food-system-asset-map.html

Bennington Meals on Wheels – 442-8012
mowbennington.org

BROC Food Shelf – 447-7515
broc.org/food-nutrition/community-food-shelves/19

Goodwill Thrift Store – 442-4285

Greater Bennington Interfaith Council – 379-0149
gbicsbennington.org

Green Mountain Christian Center – 447-7224
greenmtn.org

Harvest Christian Ministries (Soup Kitchen) – 447-0869
harvestchristianministries.net

Dial 211 Learn More
If you are food insecure in Vermont you can call a free confidential service available 24/7 to learn about food resources.

NOFA-VT Farm Share – 434-4122
nofavt.org

Medical, Home Health, Elderly & Disabled Services

AlcoholHelp – (844) 561-5951
alcoholhelp.com/alcohol/overview-alcoholism/

American Red Cross – 442-9458

Bennington Free Medical Clinic – 447-3700
(by appointment on Monday and Thursday)
benningtoncares.org/home/bennington-free-clinic/

Bennington Project Independence – 442-8136
bpiads.org

Mount Anthony Primary Care – 442-2343
pchpmd.com/directory/locations/show/mt-anthony-primary-care/

SASH – 442-9920
email sash@shireshousing.org

Southwest VT Medical Center – 442-6361
svhealthcare.org

SVMC Express Care – 440-4077
svhealthcare.org/services/expresscare/index.html

Vermont Council on Aging – 442-5436
www.svcoa.org

Vermont Center for Independent Living – 447-0574
vcil.org

Visiting Nurses Association (VNA) & Hospice – 442-5502
vermontvisitingnurses.org

Financial Assistance

BROC – 447-7515
broc.org

Economic Services (3Squares VT, Reach Up) – 1-800-479-6151 or 1-800-287-0589
dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/3SquaresVT | https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/reachup

Vermont Office of Child Support – 447-2799
dcf.vermont.gov/ocs

Transportation

Green Mountain Express – 447-0477
www.greenmtncn.org/index.html

Monument Taxi – 447-1900

Walt’s/Bennington Taxi Service – 442-9052

Counseling

Bennington Psychotherapy – 447-1231

Southshire Behavioral Health – 442-3520
southshirecounseling.com

United Counseling Service – 442-5491
ucsvt.org