Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has proposed a significant increase in the city’s investment in the Howard Center’s Street Outreach Team, which helps respond to various public safety situations downtown.”So the city in my proposed budget is moving that dollar investment from about $80,000 — which has been stuck at not increasing by any means for the last 10 to 15 years — to $249,000,” Mulvaney Stanak said. More than two decades since the Street Outreach Team was created by one man who saw a need for more mental health services in Burlington, it has grown to six people who serve people in need across the city. “The team has evolved to be able to meet the person in the moment and triage what the needs are, meet those immediate needs,” said Tammy Boudah, who’s been on and led the team for more than 20 years.The members of the team don’t dress in uniform and appear just like anyone else on the street. However, when they’re on patrol, they take on a variety roles from administrating Narcan and CPR to responding to crisis calls.”What we do is just in the moment, case management with folks,” said team member Paul Decelles. “Catch them on the good days, so when the bad day comes, we’re another trusted source for them.”Shawn Burke, Burlington’s interim police chief, said the department’s decades-long partnership with the Street Outreach Team has been critical to community safety and allowing the department to have more eyes on the ground. “Their team members attend our roll call and chat with officers about who’s escalated and who’s stable so they can actually have a thorough patrol plan each day,” Burke said.Members of the team are stationed around Burlington at designated times throughout the week, including on Church Street, City Hall Park and the Fletcher Free Library. They are on duty Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on the weekend from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.If anyone sees someone appearing to suffer a mental health crisis in Burlington they are encouraged to call the Street Outreach Team during those times at 802-488-7013.
Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak has proposed a significant increase in the city’s investment in the Howard Center’s Street Outreach Team, which helps respond to various public safety situations downtown.
“So the city in my proposed budget is moving that dollar investment from about $80,000 — which has been stuck at [and] not increasing by any means for the last 10 to 15 years — to $249,000,” Mulvaney Stanak said.
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More than two decades since the Street Outreach Team was created by one man who saw a need for more mental health services in Burlington, it has grown to six people who serve people in need across the city.
“The team has evolved to be able to meet the person in the moment and triage what the needs are, meet those immediate needs,” said Tammy Boudah, who’s been on and led the team for more than 20 years.
The members of the team don’t dress in uniform and appear just like anyone else on the street. However, when they’re on patrol, they take on a variety roles from administrating Narcan and CPR to responding to crisis calls.
“What we do is just in the moment, case management with folks,” said team member Paul Decelles. “Catch them on the good days, so when the bad day comes, we’re another trusted source for them.”
Shawn Burke, Burlington’s interim police chief, said the department’s decades-long partnership with the Street Outreach Team has been critical to community safety and allowing the department to have more eyes on the ground.
“Their team members attend our roll call and chat with officers about who’s escalated and who’s stable so they can actually have a thorough patrol plan each day,” Burke said.
Members of the team are stationed around Burlington at designated times throughout the week, including on Church Street, City Hall Park and the Fletcher Free Library. They are on duty Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on the weekend from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
If anyone sees someone appearing to suffer a mental health crisis in Burlington they are encouraged to call the Street Outreach Team during those times at 802-488-7013.
