Mental Health Urgent Care - Howard Center
Mental Health Support • South Burlington, VT • Since 1865 • 1 location locations
About
Mental Health Urgent Care at Howard Center is a walk-in, same-day mental health service designed to provide timely support. It operates in Vermont and is part of Howard Center, a Burlington-based nonprofit offering crisis and counseling services, developmental supports, and substance use treatment. The Urgent Care is intended to meet people where they are, with walk-in access during regular hours (and after-hours options by contacting 988). If you’re seeking immediate mental health help in the South Burlington area, this program is the Howard Center resource focused on rapid, non-emergency assistance. For exact hours and locations, contact Howard Center or call their numbers listed on the site.
Clinic Type
Mental Health Support
Address
1 South Prospect Street, Burlington, VT
Phone
802-488-MHUC (6482)
DevelopmentTeam@howardcenter.org
Opening Hours
Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Emergency Care
Yes, emergency department staff can refer patients to MHUC as part of a discharge plan; walk-ins welcome
Services Offered
Team
Insurance & Payment
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Services at Mental Health Urgent Care are fully funded and free for the first three years, with the exception of physical health services covered by insurance.
Languages Spoken
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Pricing
FAQs
What happens if I need ongoing support after 5:00pm?
Our staff will help determine the next steps, including referrals to other programs or identifying natural supports. Guests may return the next morning for additional support.
Is there a charge for services?
MHUC is fully funded for three years. No charges or bills will be issued during this period, except for physical health medical care services covered by insurance.
Can the Emergency Department refer to me to MHUC?
Yes, emergency department staff can refer patients to MHUC as part of a discharge plan, though they cannot refuse immediate treatment.
Photos
What Patients Say
Overall sentiment across review platforms: mixed
- UrgentCareMap.health (Note: likely generalized to Burlington area services): 4.2/5 stars (5 reviews)
- Rehab.com: 3.5/5 stars (12 reviews (for Howard Center Assist Program))
- Rehab.com: 2.9/5 stars (20 reviews (for Howard Center Westview House))
Patients praise
- compassionate, non-judgmental staff
- welcoming and comfortable physical environment
- provides a needed alternative to emergency department visits
Common complaints
- administrative challenges regarding paperwork and intake processes
- concerns about the responsiveness of staff and communication issues
- criticisms of system policies related to patient discharge and insurance practices
"At the MHUC, guests come from all walks of life with unique experiences, backgrounds, and needs... every guest finds caring staff members who help without judgement or stigma."
— Howard Center official program description"Be forewarned, If your initial paperwork with this circus of a company, is not completed properly in the very beginning, than chances are good, that your ENTIRE experience with them, will be an absolute nightmare."
— Rehab.com user review (regarding Howard Center generally)Synthesized from public review platforms as of Jul 11, 2026 — sources: [1][2][3][4].
In the News
- Mental Health Urgent Care celebrates one year in Burlington — Oct 30, 2025
- Howard Center’s mental health urgent care marks first anniversary — Oct 30, 2025
- A different door to access mental health care - VTDigger — Mar 2, 2026
- Care during crisis: mental health crisis interventions for students – The Vermont Cynic — Apr 23, 2026
- Rep. Becca Balint tours Howard Center's mental health urgent care — Aug 22, 2025
Information sourced from the clinic's website as of July 11, 2026.
More mental health support clinics in South Burlington
Northeastern Family Institute (NFI Vermont) is a private, nonprofit outpatient mental health and educational services provider in South Burlington, VT. Grounded in trauma-informed care, NFI VT serves individuals, youth, and families dealing with severe trauma and emotional dysregulation. Key details: - Location: Headquarters and main offices in South Burlington, VT (three U.S. locations total). - Services: Mental health and educational services for individuals, youth, and families (outpatient oriented within Vermont’s statewide mental health system). - Structure: Specialized Service Agency within Vermont’s mental health system; nonprofit with 25 employees. - Leadership/Finance: CFO: David R. Goode; other listed leaders include Erika Suarez (Director of Hospital Diversions) and IT Director Rick Nelson. - Size/Reach: Annual revenue approx. $16.3 million; monthly site traffic ~6k visits; strong US presence. - Online: Official site nfivermont.org; LinkedIn presence. If you’re specifically looking for NFI Family Center as an outpatient clinic in South Burlington (NFI VT), this matches: outpatient mental health services rooted in trauma-informed care, based in South Burlington with multiple VT offices.
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