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THE COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY

Vol. 33, No. 2 www.cotsonline.org FALL 2015

#172vt A in someone’s name Alternative End homelessness, one from COTS child at a time Send a Katharine Montstream holiday card: Make a minimum $10 COTS launched our #172vt campaign to end to COTS in someone’s name, and we’ll homelessness one child at a time in March. send the recipient a beautiful Katharine The #172vt campaign is an effort to bring Montstream card with this message: “A attention to the urgent and growing needs of generous donation has been made to homeless children. The number of homeless the Committee on Temporary Shelter children nationally has surged in recent years in your name. This gift of warmth to all-time record highs. Today, one in every 30 and shelter will help families and children in the is homeless. individuals who are experiencing the crisis of homelessness make it through has echoed these disturbing trends. the harsh winter months. Happy In the fall of 2014, there were 140 homeless holidays and best wishes for the new school-aged children, plus 32 children under year.” To order, call Gillian at (802) age 5. That made 172 homeless children in our 864-7402, Ext. 207 or email gilliant@ community in October 2014. cotsonline.org. The campaign was made possible with a Small & Inspiring grant from the Vermont Community and support from KeyBank and the Church Street Marketplace. The #172vt campaign’s kickoff event included 172 students from Rice Memorial High School, and featured a display of four school buses in front of Burlington City Hall. Each student from Rice symbolically represented a child experiencing homelessness in our community, and the four buses showed how many buses you would need to transport 172 homeless children. continued page 2

Above, right: In May, Champlain Elementary School’s choir hosted a for the #172vt campaign at The Spot in Burlington, raising more than $1,200. Below: At the For more Alternative Giving Ideas, see kickoff in March, 172 students from Rice Memorial High School demonstrated what 172 Page 4. children looks like, as they stood on the Burlington City Hall steps. Dee PT Great Diaper 2015 This year’s goal: 40,000 diapers! Since 2007, Jason Fitzgerald and Dee Physical Therapy have led the Dee PT Great Diaper Drive. This year’s goal: 40,000 diapers!

continued page 3 172VT...continued from page 1 Our speakers included: Gov. Peter Shumlin, Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne, Agency of Human Services Secretary Hal Cohen, King Street Center Executive Director Vicky Smith, and Rice Student Council President Griffin Cunningham. COTS Executive Director Rita Markley also addressed the crowd of supporters. Ten days after the event, Gov. Shumlin came to COTS and announced a statewide initiative to end family homelessness by 2020.

HomeFront is published twice a year, The #172vt campaign continued via social media through the spring, summer and fall in March and November, by: and sparked a number of student-led efforts on behalf of homeless families. Students Committee on stood up for their struggling peers through concerts, car washes, lemonade stands, Temporary Shelter famers’ market sales, and collection drives. PO Box 1616 Burlington, VT 05402 In the late summer, the #172vt Back-to-School Drive provided school supplies to 802-864-7402 children for the upcoming academic year. The drive was made possible through the fax 802-864-2612 support of KeyBank, Kinney Drugs and Staples’ South Burlington Copy & Print. The www.cotsonline.org backpacks and additional supplies were distributed through COTS, the Burlington Boys & Girls Club, the Sara Holbrook Center, the King Street Center, Spectrum Youth Established 1982 & Family Services, and other community partners. BOARD OF DIRECTORS We are happy to report that a year later, following an increased awareness, more money Jeffrey Nolan,Chair Tom Torti, Vice Chair for prevention, and changes in housing policy the number has declined. The survey Debra Royce, Treasurer of school district’s homeless liaisons revealed 133 children experiencing homelessness Paul Lekstutis, Secretary in our community: 116 schoolchildren, plus 17 children under age 5. Our work Beth Anderson continues – even one homeless child is one too many. Thank you for your help! Sean Collins Catherine Dingle Left: The awareness campaign continued Laurie Gunn into the fall with the Back to School Drive, George Hubbard Michael H. Lipson where more than 172 backpacks and Jeff Martin additional supplies were collected and Shelley Richardson distributed to children via COTS and our Brigitte Ritchie community partners. Below left: Gov. Bob Steis Peter Shumlin and Bishop Christopher Rita Markley, Executive Director Coyne joined COTS for the kickoff. Below right: Ivah, age 6, worked tirelessly and independently to sell lemonade on the A United Way Member Agency Burlington Bike Path to raise awareness and money for COTS.

Editor Becky Holt Writers Daniel Frey, Lori Goldman, Tamira Martel, Gillian Taylor Designer Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio

follow us online Let all of your friends and followers know that you think 172 homeless children in our www.cotsonline.org community is unacceptable. Use the hashtag #172vt to join a community of people fighting against childhood homelessness. Tweet a storm! Take to Instagram! Flood www.facebook.com/COTSonline Facebook! Do anything you can to get the word out about the #172vt campaign. @COTSvt Pinterest.com/cotsvt For more information on how to raise awareness about the growing number of homeless youth, contact Lori Goldman at [email protected] and follow the #172vt hashtag.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  More on the COTS blog Diaper Drive...continued from page 1 Visit cotsonline.org to read more The diapers they collect help families in COTS services for an entire year. Visit our blog to read more about these Daystation Mandalas Diapers for one child, for one month great initiatives: Former AmeriCorps (now COTS staffer) cost about $60. For families struggling Sydney Kalas, following the suggestion to return or stabilize housing, this of a local art therapist, decided to donation makes it a little easier to introduce mandalas – geometrically make ends meet, while also helping intricate designs of Indian origin – to them care for their child. guests of the Daystation. Guest-made mandalas (intricate, artistic designs), The drive continues through Dec. along with other artwork, now line 22nd, with three Dee Physical Therapy the walls of the Daystation and the diaper drop-off sites: Waystation. “There are many goals at • 23 San Remo Dr., South Burlington the Daystation, and one of those goals • Field House, 166 Athletic Dr., is to make this place more homey,” Shelburne Sydney said. • 52 Farmall Dr., Hinesburg Main Street Makeover Sydney Kalas with guest-created artwork Diapers can be dropped off between The Main Street Family Shelter under- 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, went major weatherization renovations and between 7 a.m. through 4 p.m. this summer. The project’s goals: to Fridays. For questions, call (802) make the shelter more livable for guests 865-0010, or email Jason at and to lower COTS’ annual energy costs. [email protected]. The partnership and generous support of Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO), Champlain Valley Weatherization, Commons Energy, and Consumer Construction made this project possible. What started with an Volunteers needed energy audit ended with bringing the historic structure in line with the 2015 for Phonathon energy codes. The COTS annual Phonathon starts Nov. 30. Volunteers call COTS Main Street Family Garden supporters to thank them for their past When AmeriCorps Macy Margolin Partnership with UVM and ask them to consider a arrived at COTS family shelter, she Last school year, COTS partnered with gift again this year. found they already had a small container the Cabot Community Challenge course, If you would like to volunteer, as a garden, made out of several storage part of the ’s caller or in the mailroom, call Lori at bins. Her goal: Build a 100-square- Community Development and Applied (802) 864-7402, Ext. 207, or email foot, raised bed, garden in its place, to Economics department. Led by lecturer her at [email protected]. We need supplement produce for COTS’ healthy Kate Woodruff, in collaboration with 50 volunteers, 5:30-9 p.m. Nov. snack and meal program for youth. And, Roberta MacDonald of Cabot Creamery 30–Dec. 4 and Dec. 7–8; morning that’s exactly what she did! Inspired by Co-op, COTS worked with hours available are Dec. 9. Thank you a national reading program that rewards dynamic students who for your help. children for reading throughout the created original new summer months, Macy also created marketing tools a “Summer Veggie Challenge” that and helped raise similarly incentivized children to eat awareness about vegetables. Children received points homelessness on based on how nutritious a vegetable campus. was and how much of it they ate. They also received bonus points for trying a Sticker designed by vegetable for the first time. artist and UVM graduate Jackson Tupper)

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  Volunteer Spotlight National Service Launch and Governor’s Service Awards KeyBank and Macy Margolin were recognized at Governor’s Service Awards, as part of the National Service Launch for AmeriCorps and SeniorCorps, in October. KeyBank and Brigitte Richie, Director of Community Relations and Public Affairs, were paramount in the success of our #172vt campaign. KeyBank spearheaded the #172vt Back to School Drive. After generously donating 172 backpacks to be filled, KeyBank Above left: Brigitte Ritchie and Don Baker of KeyBank. Above right: had collection bins in their local branches. KeyBank staff Macy Margolin with COTS staff Gillian Taylor (left) and Lori Goldman. volunteered to help stuff the backpacks with supplies. KeyBank also helps COTS by preparing lunches at our Daystation, organizing Walk teams and sponsorship, and supporting homelessness prevention through the Housing Resource Center. Give the gift that keeps on giving Macy Margolin served as an AmeriCorps last year in COTS Alternative shopping ideas from COTS family shelters through the Vermont Youth Development Share Cookies for Good Corps. Her efforts focused on promoting health and wellness Sugarsnap delicious “Cookies for Good” is a “bake sale every among the children living in shelter. Among the many day” for COTS: 35 cents from each $1 cookie sold goes to positive contributions Macy made, her greatest is the new COTS. Serve the cookies at your holiday garden she designed, planted, and cultivated that provided party, business lunch or send to a fresh vegetables for families in our shelters. friend, co-worker or customer. A variety of flavors of the locally sourced treats are available. To United Way Building Block Award order, visit www.cookiesforgood.org, COTS volunteer Peter Keny was honored with a Building call (802) 861-2951 or email Blocks Award at the Live United breakfast in September. [email protected]. Peter began two to three hours a week in COTS Carry a COTS Flashbag family shelters. He manages to volunteer in his packed The Flashbags feature door- schedule that includes attending classes, working the night knobs from the Main Street shift as a janitor, and helping run the Sudan Development Family Shelter. To order tote Foundation SUDEF. bags (available in 2 sizes), placemats or wallets, call Peter is flexible, committed, and (802) 864-7402 or email wonderful with kids. In particular, [email protected]. For his passion for facilitating “Active orders placed through COTS, Adventures” for the children living in we receive 50 percent of each sale. family shelter has been a gift to our families. With his help, children living Music to your ears in our family shelters have gone on “Harmonies for Humanity, Vol. 1: many explorations around Burlington, Musicians raising money for COTS” from educational field trips to ECHO, features Vermont musicians in a CD to swimming at the YMCA, to playing created to benefit COTS. The $10 soccer at town parks. Connecting CDs are available at our main office, children in shelter with quality active 95 North Ave., Burlington. learning experiences like this gives them the best chance to succeed later in life.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  Nearly 2,000 walkers, volunteers, and supporters attended the 26th Annual COTS Walk in May. The annual 3-mile trek on May 3 around Burlington raised nearly $200,000 for COTS programs. The Walk would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors:

Presented by T-Shirt Sponsors Business: Burlington Labs; Champlain Flat Fee Real Estate City Market Investment Partners; Gardener’s Supply Delta Dental Co.; KeyBank; Lenny’s Shoe and Apparel; Community Sponsors Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. Logic Supply; MyWebGrocer; Primmer Piper Efficiency Vermont/ The Dixie Six Eggleston & Cramer; Pomerleau Real Estate; Vermont Energy Investment Corp. Gardener’s Supply Co. Saint Michael’s College; Sen. Patrick Leahy’s Dealer.com Hotel Vermont Office; Signature Properties of Vermont; Kave Audio TruexCullins; VEIC; Verilux; Winooski Housing Media Sponsors KeyBank Authority. Star 92.9 Queen City Printers, Inc. Community: Ben Mary Julia Neelie; COTS Free Press Media RedStone Walk – Spring Street; Seven Shades of Walkers. WCAX-TV University of Vermont Medical Center Planet 96.7 Vermont Systems Faith: Cathedral Church of St. Paul & Christ Church Presbyterian; College Street Route Sponsors Generous in-kind supporters Congregational Church; First Congregational Duncan*Wisniewski Alison Redlich Photography; Green Church of Burlington; First United Methodist MyWebGrocer Mountain Chorus; Hannaford Brothers; Church of Burlington; First Unitarian Keller Williams Vermont; PP&D Distribution Universalist Society of Burlington; Good Site Sponsors Service; Saint Michael’s College; Staples; Shepherd Lutheran Church; Mercy Associates Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Starbucks; Stephen Mease Photography; and Religious; The Parish of Holy Family & BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont Sugarsnap; Symquest; University of Vermont St. Lawrence; Richmond Congregational Casella Waste Management Athletic Department; Verizon Wireless; Church; St. Catherine of Siena; St. James Darn Tough Vermont ; Vermont Pure Episcopal Church; St. Pius X; Shelburne Northfield Savings Bank Spring; WB Mason. United Methodist Church; Stowe Community NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Church; Temple Sinai; Trinity Episcopal Vermont Tent Company CHALLENGE WALKERS Church; United Church of Underhill. Individuals: Sally Ballin; Scot Barker; School: Burlington High School National Sydney Holt Barker; Rebecca Bull; Mary Honor Society; Camels Hump Middle School; Candon; Bishop Christopher Coyne; Denise Champlain Valley Union High School Key Danyow; Bob Duncan; Jonathan Farrell; Club; Integrated Arts Academy; Mount Melissa Goldberg; Lori Goldman; Joyce Mansfield High School National Honor Hagan; Nan Mason; Chip Patullo; Ernie Society; Rice Memorial High School; The Pomerleau; Fr. Charles Ranges; Brigitte Schoolhouse Deltas; South Burlington High Ritchie; Debra Royce; Lucy Samara; Stacey School National Honor Society; University of Sheehan; Nicole Stefanowicz; Jennifer Vermont Department of Social Work. Swint; Gillian Taylor; Casey Therrien; Jill Warrington. Many thanks to our community volunteers, team captains, donors, and walkers!

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us…

COTS absolutely could not do the work it does without Thanks to the generous partnership of Kinney Drugs, Staples, the generous support of our community. KeyBank, Star 92.9 and WCAX, our #172vt Back to School Drive was a huge success. We were able to fill over Four teams fundraised and ran in the 172 backpacks and pass them out to our clients as well as for COTS as part of Run Vermont’s Miles for Mission program community partners. that benefits local nonprofits. Burlington Furniture Co. hosted their annual Anniversary Sale Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, in conjunction with Darn Tough to benefit COTS. and Smartwool, donated hundreds of new socks to COTS shelters as well as the proceeds from their 5th Annual Mirabelle’s Café continues to donate a cake each month to Sock Sale. The result? Nearly $600 for services and support children who are having their birthday in shelter. and many warm, dry feet. Northfield Savings Bank donated 35 vouchers for children in our Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc. provided 11 new pairs shelters to enjoy ECHO at the Leahy Center. of shoes for children in Family Shelter. Select Design and Unknown Arts donated giant boxes of T-shirts Thanks to the partnership and generous support of Champlain for guest staying at the Waystation. Valley Office of Economic Opportunity’s (CVOEO) The Schoolhouse in South Burlington once again included mothers Champlain Valley Weatherization, Commons Energy, and Consumer Construction we were able to weatherize staying in COTS’ family shelters as part of their Mother’s Day brunch Main Street Family Shelter for greater warmth and energy bag fundraiser. The Schoolhouse delivered donated brunch bags to efficiency. moms who are in COTS emergency shelter.

Liz Dyer and local homeschoolers hosted their 16th Annual Seventh Generation stocked our shelves with 8 pallets of their Homeschooler Bake Sale for COTS at the Fletcher Free Library. diapers. The bake sale brought in more than $300, and they donated all Burlington Parks, Recreation, and Waterfront, Burlington the remaining baked goodies to the Daystation. City Arts, Wingspan Arts, ECHO at Leahy Center, and Sandy Gardener’s Supply Co. helped beautify COTS shelters and Valine of YWCA Camp Greylock together donated summer camp permanent housing this summer. They donated seeds, plants, scholarships to children staying in family shelter. compost, and potting soil to the Daystation, family shelters, and St. Timberlane Dental Group has been donating a monthly supply of John’s Hall. Their generosity and thoughtfulness means so much to exam gloves for staff to use in shelter. us and really goes far in brightening the spaces where we serve our clients. Chappell’s Florist donated beautiful recycled flower center pieces to the Housing Resource Center reception desk. Jamie Bright, a local singer-songwriter based in Burlington known on stage as Silent Mind, continues to host and raise money Osh Kosh B’Gosh has been donating a steady supply of children’s for COTS through the COTS Songwriters Circle series he denim and school clothing. organized in partnership with local performers and Nectar’s Bar Business Communication Services, Inc. donated their time and and Lounge. services to our family shelters. Heaven on Wheels Car Show, presented by McCaffrey’s Sunoco Gadue’s Dry Cleaning has continued to be a huge asset to COTS, & Waggy’s Store & Deli and Community Bible Church, cleaning more than 40 blankets to top our beds in shelter. raised money for COTS and homeless prevention, shelter, and housing services. Buttered Noodles generously gave us two large boxes of brand new children’s clothes. Vermont Lake Monsters donated tickets for our Daystation guest to enjoy two games this summer. Vermont Paralegal Organization provided 25 Valentine’s Day goody bags to make the holiday special for children staying in shelter. James and Lori Wilson donated 2 tickets for “1964” The Tribute “World’s #1 Beatles Tribute” for COTS clients to enjoy. COSTCO made monthly gift card donations to support the Daystation meal program. The Church Street Marketplace’s “Pachinko and Champette” spare change game has collected more than Burlington Bedrooms donated 4 queen mattress sets for families $3,500 since arriving on the Church Street Marketplace. moving into new apartments.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  Busy fall and busier We are grateful to our community – it takes all of us… winter this year at COTS Construction of new Daystation Volunteer groups from KeyBank, Blue Star Mothers, The and housing gets under way; Hilton Garden Inn, Champlain Yacht Club, Middlebury seasonal shelter opens College’s Club MidView, Fairway Mortgage Corporation, Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington, Mercy COTS has moved closer to rebuilding the Daystation Connections, Vermont Energy Investment Corporation, and creating new housing with construction set to get North Hero Elementary School, , under way at our 95 North Avenue building. UVM Medical Students, Allscripts, Mansfield Hall, Hallam The aims of the renovation project are threefold: to Associates Inc., Wells Fargo Group, Albert D. Lawton rebuild the Daystation; to create 14 new units of Middle School, Dollar Enterprise, Dealer.com, The Ronald affordable, service-enriched housing; and to upgrade McDonald House, UVM Kappa Alpha Theta, UVM Alpha program space and enhance services for families and Phi Omega, and Lang House on Main Street Bed and prevention outreach. Breakfast donated and prepared meals and snacks for the Daystation. Due to construction, the COTS’ Housing Resource Center, family services, and administrative offices have The Edge, American Red Cross Vermont & New temporarily moved. These COTS programs are now Hampshire Valley, UVM Dewey House for Community co-located with our Daystation and the new winter Engagement, Burlington Tennis Club, Gardner’s Supply warming shelter at 179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington. Co., Instrumart, Richmond Congregational Church, Lucy Samara and the First Congregational Church of The Daystation, COTS’ daytime service center for Burlington, Beth Weiner and the Pajama Program, homeless adults, has been without a stable home ever Sodexo at UVM, Parker Family Farms, Faith United since it flooded in July 2012. By late next year, the Methodist Church, Knitting Group, Hilton Garden Inn, Daystation will enjoy a permanent location at 95 UVM Medical Center, Shearer Volkswagon, Colchester North Ave. Middle School, Saint Michael’s College, Vermont Business COTS has partnered with Housing Vermont for the 95 Magazine, Our Lady of Grace Church, Christ the King North renvoation project. Thanks to generous public School, KPMG Family for Literacy, Walmart, Buffalo Wild and private support, the 95 North Project “Bringing It Wings, and UVM Medical Libraries all organized donation All Home” will soon be a reality. drives that collected a variety of much-needed items on the COTS Wish list -– from toiletries, to household items, to gift cards, pillows and bedding, clothing and non-perishable food. Winter Warming Shelter

Hammerfit, Buzzbee Bakery, Green Mountain COTS also is opening a warming shelter this month. Chiropractic, The Community Health Center, Nate’s This shelter, in partnership with the state’s Agency of Automotive, Leonora Dodge, and Everything Auto all Human Services, will welcome guests through the end of donated prizes and raffle items for the COTS Zumbathon hosted March. Our shared goal is to alleviate the expensive use by Kate Barash-Engel. of overflow motels and to redirect any savings toward prevention and long-term housing options. The Flying Pig Bookstore donated 3 boxes of books. The warming shelter will provide 40 beds, which are in In lieu of gifts, Josie Maxwell asked for bedding and linens to addition to COTS’ Waystation that already offers 36 beds. donate to COTS on her birthday. COTS has worked closely with the state, city, downtown August First, Mirabelle’s, The Great Harvest Bread community, and nonprofit partners in preparing to Company, Doughnut Dilemma, Feldman’s Bagels, open this additional shelter. The University of Vermont The Bagel Café and Deli, Hannaford, and Starbucks of Medical Center will donate linens and laundry service Williston donated the food for our Annual Meeting and Volunteer for the warming shelter. We are also grateful to CVOEO, Recognition Breakfast. Howard Center, and Safe Harbor Health Center for their Chappell’s Florist donated recycled flowers to our facilities and encouragement and support. provided 10 bouquets for our Annual Meeting. More than 30 volunteers also plan to donate their Staples donated 3 boxes of lip balm for guests in shelter. time at the warming shelter this winter. For more information on volunteering, contact Lori at lorig@ cotsonline.org, or call (802) 864-7402, Ext. 207.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  Chappell’s Florist Charles Schwab Corporation Foundation Thank you! Charlotte Central School These generous businesses and organizations provided in-kind and financial Charlotte Congregational Church support during COTS’ fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2014-Sept. 30, 2015). In addition to the Christ the King School names here, hundreds of individuals and foundations have made financial and/or Church Street Marketplace in-kind gifts in support of COTS programs and services this year. The foundations Citizens Bank listed have requested inclusion in our newsletter. Citizens Bank Foundation City Market Onion River Co-op 4 Seasons Garden Center The Body Shop Skin & Hair Care City of Burlington, Community & Economic Development Office A.M. Turk Tax Associates, Inc. boloco City of South Burlington Abbey Group Bond Auto Parts City of Winooski Advanced Machine & Tool Company, Inc. Booska Movers Clarity Laboratories Aerodyme Corporation Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Directors Clark’s Truck Center After Midnight Corporation Brian Jones Woodworking Claussen’s Enterprise Incorporated AIG Matching Grants Program Brick Box Company LLC Clear Family Chiropractic Airboss - Defense Inc. Brio Coffeeworks College Street Congregational Alchemist Brewery Bristol Animal Hospital Community Alliance Church Alder Brook Dental Associates, PC Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Community Bible Church Assembly of God Alison Redlich Photography Bruegger’s Enterprises, Inc. The Condo Guy All Saints Episcopal Church Buffalo Wild Wings Co-Operative Insurance Companies All Souls Interfaith Gathering Building Energy Cosmos Hair Salon, LLC Allscripts Burlington Barber Shop Costco Wholesale #314 Al’s French Frys Burlington Bedrooms Creative Teamworks Amazing Smiles, Inc. Burlington City Arts Crystal Rock & Vermont Pure Bottled Water AmazonSmile Burlington Elks Lodge #916 Companies American Flatbread Burlington Furniture CS Business and Property Mgt, LLC American Legion Post 91 Burlington Housing Trust Fund CSE, Inc. American Red Cross New Hampshire & Burlington Laboratories, Inc. Cub Scout Troop 607 Vermont Region Burlington Parks and Recreation Cushman Design Group, Inc. Apple Mountain Vermont Gifts & Burlington Police Department Cx Associates, LLC Specialty Foods Burlington Telecom Cybergrants Aquatec Biological Sciences, Inc. Burlington Tennis Club Danforth Pewter Argosy Foundation Business Communication Services, Inc. Darn Tough Vermont ArtsRiot Buttered Noodles The Data Farm Arvad’s Inc. Cabot Vermont Daughters of Charity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Ashgate Publishing Company Cady’s Falls Nursery Daughters of Isabella, Madonna Circle August First Bakery Calvary Episcopal Church Dealer.com AXA Foundation Camels Hump Middle School Dear Lucy The Bagel Place Carter’s Dee Physical Therapy Bailey-Howe and Dana Medical Libraries Casella Waste Systems, Inc. DEW Construction Balance Team, Inc. Catamount North Dewey House for Community Engagement at UVM Banana Republic Cedar Ledge Builders, Inc. DGH Enterprises LLC Bank of America Charitable Foundation Chakra-5-Records, LLC Di Stefano Landscaping Barnes & Noble Booksellers Chamberlin Elementary School Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. Barton United Church Champlain Cable Corporation Discovery Map Beauty in The Works The Dixie Six Ben & Jerry’s Foundation Champlain College: Center for Service & Dok Wright Photography Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Civic Engagement Downs Rachlin & Martin PLLC Benevity Community Impact Fund Champlain Consulting Engineers Duncan * Wisniewski Architecture Benware Enterprises, Inc. Champlain Elementary School Eagle Eye Farm, Inc. Bertha Church Intimate Apparel Lingerie Champlain Investment Partners ECHO at the Leahy Center Blodgett, Watts, Volk & Sussman, P.C. Champlain Valley Association for Insurance The Edge Blue Star Mothers Professionals Edmunds Elementary School Bluebird Barbecue Champlain Woodcraft Emily Post Institute BlueCross BlueShield of Vermont Champlain Yacht Club Employee Community Action Council of

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  General Dynamics Green Mountain Chorus Management Accounting Services, LLC Engineering Ventures Green Mountain Montessori School Mann & Machine, Inc. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Hallam Associates, Inc. Mansfield Hall Enviro Tech of VT Septic Services, LLC Halloran Hardware Mater Christi School Ericson Team at KW Vermont Halvorson’s Upstreet Cafe Maternal and Child Health Division – Essex Center United Methodist Church Women Hammerfit Motion Studio Department of Health Essex High School Hannaford Brothers Co. MAXIMUS Foundation Essex Junction Fire Department Hardy Structural Engineering McCaffrey’s Sunoco Essex Resort and Spa Harrington Properties McVeigh Skiff LLP Fairway Mortgage Corporation Hemenway & Barnes LLP Meredith Corporation Faith United Methodist Church Henry’s Diner Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation, Inc. Faith United Methodist Women Heritage Business Services, Inc. Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Fanny Allen Corporation, Inc. Highgate Elementary School Middlebury College Farmhouse Group/Farmhouse Tap & Grill Hinesburg 4H Club Milton Elementary School Farrell Distributing Corporation Home Instead Senior Care Mirabelles, Inc. Farrell Real Estate Co. HomeBridge Financial Services, Inc. Missionary Sisters of Our Lady of Africa Fead Construction Law, PLC Homeschoolers of Chittenden County Mister Z’s Feathered Friends 4H Club Honest Yoga LLC Modern Design Furniture Feldman’s Bagels Hotel Vermont Montstream Studio Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Howard Plant VFW Post 782 Montgomery & Merrill, PC First Congregational Church of Burlington IBM Retiree Charitable Campaign Montpelier Broadcasting, Inc. First Congregational Church of Essex Junction IBM-Computershare Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust, Inc. First Night, Inc. Independent Block, LLC Move You Fitness Studio First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington Industrial Services, Inc. Murphy Sullivan Kronk Fitzgerald Veterinary Hospital Instrumart MyWebGrocer Flat Fee Real Estate Intervale Center The Nate Malley Team Fletcher Free Library J. A. Morrissey, Inc. Nate’s Automotive Fletcher/CSI, Inc. J. M. Forbes & Co., LLP National Life Group Charitable Foundation, Inc. Flynn Center for the Performing Arts Janitech National Life Insurance Company Forest Park Realty Corp. Jericho United Methodist Church Nectar’s Frank Carruth Inc. Jerusalem Gathering Builders, LLC Fraternal Order of Eagles K.C. Scanlon Estate Sales & Services, LLC New England Federal Credit Union FreePressMedia Karen Pike Photography New England Floor Covering Company, Inc. Furchgott & Sourdiffe Gallery Kave Audio New Moon Cafe G W Tatro Construction, Inc. Kell and Company Real Estate Nikon Precision, Inc. Gadue’s Dry Cleaning, Inc. Kelsey Trust North Hero Elementary School Gannett Foundation, Inc. Keurig Green Mountain NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Gardener’s Supply Co. KeyBank Northeast Delta Dental Gay & Lesbian Fund of Vermont, Inc. KeyBank Foundation Northern Benefits GE Foundation KeyBank National Association Northfield Savings Bank General Dynamics King’s Corner Deli - Burlington Vermont O’Brien Brothers Agency, Inc. Georgia Elementary & Middle School Kinney Drugs Oh My Dog VT Gigunda Group, Inc. Kojo Academy of Tae Kwon Do & Martial Ohavi Zedek Synagogue Girl Scout Troop 30846 at Integrated Arts Arts Onion River Chiropractic, Inc. Academy KPMG Family for Literacy Orchard Elementary School Goldman, Sachs & Co. Matching Gift Program Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineers, Inc. OshKosh B’Gosh Goodrich PAC Match L. K. Rossi Corporation Our Lady of Grace Church Goodshop L/R Pest Elimination Services Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church Goodwill Lafayette Highway Specialties P & P Septic Gordon’s Window Decor Chocolates Pajama Program Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc. Larkin Realty Parker Family Farm Grace United Methodist Church Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Pascolo Great Developments, LLC Leonardo’s Pizza Paul Frank + Collins P.C. Great Harvest Bread Co. Leunig’s Bistro Paw Print & Mail Greater Burlington YMCA Lynch Family Chiropractic, LLC Pax Christi Burlington Greater Horizons Mad River Barn PC Construction Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Main Street Landing Pearson & Associates

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015  Penny Cluse Cafe South Burlington High School Unknown Arts People’s United Bank Staples Uno Pizzeria & Grill People’s United Community Foundation Starbucks Ursa Major Perkins Fitness Stellar Restaurant Group, Inc. USANA Pfizer Foundation Stephen & Burns Salon & Spa Vanguard Charitable Pizzagalli Properties, LLC Stephen Mease Photography Verilux, Inc. PJSC LLC, The Scuffer Steak & Ale House Sterling Construction, Inc. Verizon Wireless Pomerleau Properties, Inc. Stillpoint Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork Vermont Agency Foundation Post 782 VFW Auxiliary Stone Underground Construction Vermont Business Magazine The Pour House Stowe Community Church Vermont Catholic Charities PP&D Distribution Service Strategic Technology Services, Inc. Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation Prelco, Inc. Subway Vermont Commons School Price Chopper Supermarkets Sugarsnap Vermont Community Foundation Princeton Area Community Foundation Sweeney DesignBuild, LLC Vermont Creamery Queen City Printers, Inc. Sweet Clover Market Vermont DAR, Seth Warner Chapter Ready Funeral Service, Inc. SymQuest Group, Inc. Vermont Energy Investment Corp. Red House, Inc. Systems & Software, Inc. Vermont Federal Credit Union Redstone Commercial Group Timber Lane Pediatrics Vermont Housing Conservation Board Regular Veterans Association – RVA Post 514 Timberlane Dental Group Vermont Kitchen Supply, Inc. Reinhart Food Service Time Out for Whoopie Vermont Korean American United Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph of Tiny Thai Methodist Women Delaware Inc. TJ MAXX Vermont Lake Monsters Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph Town of Charlotte Vermont Moving and Storage Resource Systems Group, Inc. Town of Essex Vermont Paralegal Organization Rice Memorial High School Town of Hinesburg Vermont Systems, Inc. Richmond Congregational Church Town of Jericho Vermont Tent Company Town of St. George Vermont Testing, Inc. Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington Town of Underhill Veterans of Foreign Wars 1767 Rookie’s Root Beer Town of Williston VHB Inc. Roth Real Estate Toy City Von Bargen’s Jewelry, LLC Rovers North Trapp Family Lodge W.B. Mason RunVermont TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design Walmart Sabra Field, Inc. Twinfield Union School WCAX TV St. Albans Town Educational Center U.S. Probation Office Wells Fargo Advisors, LLC St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church Underhill Central School WEZF 92.9 FM St. John Vianney Church Union Mutual of Vermont Companies Whitcomb Woods Tenants Association, Inc. Saint Michael’s College: Edmundite Community United Church of Colchester White & Burke Real Estate Investment Advisors, Inc. Saint Michael’s College: MOVE Office United Church of Fairfax White Mountain School Santa Night United Church of Hardwick Willie Racine’s Jeep Sara Holbrook Community Center United Church of Hinesburg Williston Central School The Schoolhouse United Way of Chittenden County Williston Seventh-day Adventist Church SecurShred, Inc. United Way of Rhode Island Winburn Law Offices Select Design United Way of the Greater Capital Region, Inc. Wingspan Studio Selection Unlimited University Mall Winooski Housing Authority Seventh Generation University of Vermont: Winooski School District Shearer Volkswagen Athletic Department Winooski United Methodist Church Shelburne Trinity Episcopal Church Club AFECT WOKO/WJOY Radio Shelburne United Methodist Church College of Agriculture and Sciences Wow Toyz Sheraton Burlington Hotel & Conference Center College of Medicine Wright & Morrissey, Inc. Silicon Valley Community Foundation Dana Medical Library WXZO Planet 96.7 Sisters of Mercy Community Development & Sisters of Mercy/Northeast Community Applied Economics Department Xtreme Grafix, LLC Sixty Farrell Street Associates, LLC Sociology Department Zabby and Elf’s Stone Soup Smith-Alvarez-Sienkiewycz Architects Student Financial Services Zinnia, Inc. Sodexo at University of Vermont Theatre Department Soles4Souls Vermont Veteran Services Sophia’s Pizzeria University of Vermont Medical Center

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015 10 year in review 2015

Revenue* by the numbers 2015 $3,494,237 shelters Individuals & Businesses: $1,038,752 (30%) Federal Grants: $586,814 (17%) Family Shelters: 64 families, including 109 children, Foundations: $535,409 (15%) stayed in a COTS family shelter. We can host up to State Grants: $458,770 (13%) 15 families each night in our two family shelters. Rental Income: $335,399 (9%) Adult Overnight Shelter: 231 individuals stayed Veterans Administration: $237,363 (7%) United Way: $128,249 (4%) in COTS’ emergency shelter, which provides 36 Other: $173,481 (5%) emergency beds each night. Adult Daytime Shelter: The Daystation is a daytime drop-in center for homeless adults in our community. Last year, 682 adults – an average of 33 people a day – visited the Daystation, where a noontime meal is served daily with the help of volunteers.

REHOUSING & SUPPORT SERVICES COTS Family Services: 173 homeless families, including those staying in emergency shelter or in the community, received support from COTS staff.

COTS Adult Services: 147 single, homeless adults received outreach and support from COTS staff.

PREVENTION SUPPORT Prevention Assistance: 318 households Expenses experiencing crisis averted homelessness through the $3,494,237 COTS Housing Resource Center.

Family Shelters: $779,458 (22%) Rehousing Assistance: 112 households received Adult Shelters: $583,035 (17%) rehousing assistance through the COTS Housing Housing Facilities: $549,910 (16%) Resource Center. Prevention Services: $490,552 (14%) Support Services: $392,237 (11%) HOUSING Development: $353,561 (10%) Administration: $226,204 (6%) Transitional Housing: 23 units of housing for Capital Contribution: $62,542 (2%) families and individuals are offered by COTS at Public Education: $56,738 (2%) Smith House and Canal Street Veterans Housing.

16 additional families were in transitional housing through Family Supportive Housing, a COTS master-lease program in partnership with Howard Center and Champlain Housing Trust.

Permanent Housing: 58 units of housing are offered by COTS at Smith House, The Wilson, St. John’s Hall, and Canal Street Veterans Housing (with Housing Vermont).

COTS services provided: 10/1/14-9/30/15

*Extraordinary Income in FY15 included a one-time strategic capital gift and capital campaign proceeds, which net of related expenses totaled $1.1 million. These are all pre-audited number for COTS FY15.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2015 11 Committee on Non-Profit Org. Temporary Shelter U.S. Postage PAID PO Box 1616 Permit No. 896 Burlington, VT 05402-1616 Burlington, VT 802-864-7402 www.cotsonline.org

Mark your calendar City Market Tree Sale December, City Market, 82 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington Find out more about these events – and how you can get City Market plans to once again generously sell fresh balsam involved – at our Web site: cotsonline.org. trees to benefit COTS. Trees cost $35 and are expected to arrive Dec. 2, with sales continuing until all trees are sold. Zumbathon® Event “Elves” are needed to help with the benefit sale. Visit 1-3 p.m., Nov. 15, Contois Auditorium, Burlington City Hall www.citymarket.coop/cots-tree-sale to volunteer. The Zumbathon® for COTS is a fundraiser hosted and organized by former COTS Daystation staffer and Zumba® The Coolest Lunch instructor Kate Barash-Engel. Bring water, a towel, shoes, and Noon-2 p.m., Dec. 16, downtown Burlington, Church Street cash for raffle items. Minimum of $100 or $35 at Marketplace, and Winooski (participating restaurants) door, as space allows. Register at cotsonline.org. The Coolest Lunch in town raises awareness and money for COTS services. Dine outside ($25 donation) and help bring Phonathon attention for the need to help our neighbors in need this Nov. 30-Dec. 3, Dec. 7-8, 5:30-9 p.m. winter. 100% of proceeds from this event go to services. COTS Offices, 179 S. Winooski Ave., Burlington Reservations encouraged; visit cotsonline.org. At the annual Phonathon, volunteers “dial for dollars” to raise money for COTS shelters and services. These enthusiastic Candlelight Vigil volunteers call COTS supporters to ask them to consider 5:30 p.m., Dec. 21, Burlington City Hall steps, Church Street a gift again this year. If you are interested in joining us to Each year, during the week of the Winter Solstice, we pause volunteer, please call Lori at (802) 864-7402, Ext. 207 or to reflect on those who are homeless in our community. email [email protected]. Community leaders share brief vignettes about people who have were homeless this past year. Refreshments follow in City Hall’s lobby.