THE COMMITTEE ON TEMPORARY SHELTER

Vol. 30, No. 2 www.cotsonline.org fall 2012

COTS celebrates 30 years of service

On Christmas Eve 1982, COTS opened its doors with two volunteers on hand to welcome anyone who needed shelter. Temperatures were well below freezing. That first winter, six or seven men – mostly veterans – typically spent the night. Today, the Committee on Temporary Shelter (COTS) is the largest service provider for the homeless and those at risk of becoming homeless in . COTS, a private nonprofit, governed by a volunteer Board of Daystation recovery under way Directors, operates 11 programs in July 4 storm destroys daytime shelter multiple locations in the Burlington area, including the only family shelters On July 4, a violent storm destroyed the COTS Daystation, our community’s only in Chittenden County, an overnight daytime shelter for homeless adults. This facility has been a vital refuge for the shelter and a daytime shelter for single homeless in Burlington for nearly 20 years. adults, and four facilities providing Rainwater from the intense storm flooded the city streets above the Daystation, permanent and transitional housing ultimately rushing over the walls and crashing down into the COTS’ program through for people moving out of shelter, the air exchange system. More than 16 inches of stormwater, sewage and mud filled veterans, the disabled, and the elderly. the space. Everything was lost – furniture, computers, appliances and supplies. COTS, a private nonprofit governed by a volunteer Board of Directors, For adults struggling with homelessness, the Daystation is the place to get a warm operates the only two family shelters cup of coffee on a freezing day or to dry soaked clothes. The Daystation is the in Chittenden County, an overnight COTS program where many people in need first connect with resources that can shelter and a daytime shelter for single help them return to stability and permanent housing. The program is designed adults, and for facilities providing to be a low-threshold support system and central space to connect with COTS permanent and transitional housing services and community resources. Also, 365 days a year, a nutritious noontime for people moving out of shelter, meal – the only free option downtown – is served daily in the Daystation. veterans, the disabled and the elderly. COTS staff regularly assists Daystation guests with employment and housing through support groups as well as in navigating the paperwork. They coordinate educational presentations, health screenings and veterans outreach with the VA and partner agencies. Volunteers provide haircuts. Guests receive mail, email and phone messages. They do their laundry. This year, more than 926 individuals used the Daystation. Many guests are veterans, elderly and disabled. Overall, about 95% of clients in this program are extremely low income (30% of median), while 5% are low income (50% of median). continued page 2 Daystation recovery...continued from page 1 Through the summer, COTS operated the program from two relocation sites. First United Methodist Church in Burlington has graciously offered to host the Daystation this winter in its parsonage. “First United Methodist Church in Burlington is blessed with the facilities we have, and we are grateful when we can partner with organizations like COTS to serve our neighbors,” the Rev. Mark Demers said. And, through our generous community support, COTS has replaced lost items and HomeFront is published twice a year, supplies, served lunch and searched for a permanent new home for the program. We are in December and April, by: incredibly grateful. There are still many opportunities to help with the Daystation Committee on Recovery & Renewal; contact us to learn how: (802) 864-7402 or [email protected]. Temporary Shelter PO Box 1616 We would like to thank our amazing community for their support with the Daystation: Burlington, VT 05402 802-864-7402 Lunches provided by: Maggie Schwalbaum & Louise Merriam; Patti Wehman & fax 802-864-2612 Friends; Becky Holt & Scot Barker; Sen. Patrick Leahy’s office; Leonardo’s Pizza; Mary www.cotsonline.org Pollard & Kim Borsavage; KeyBank; VHCB AmeriCorps Member, Jen Dunlap; Karen Carlson & Friend; ; Stacks Sandwiches; St. Andrews Episcopal Church; Established 1982 Peggy & Richard Muenier; Langrock, Sperry & Wool; 800response.com; Congressman BOARD OF DIRECTORS Peter Welch’s office; Laurie Gunn & Family; Lund Family Center; Baird 4 Nursing Unit Michael New, Chair Council at Fletcher Allen; Sally Ballin & Friends; VEIC; Texas Roadhouse; Julie Lowell & Arly Brigitte Ritchie, Vice Chair Scully; UVM Student Life; Jane Phillips; Sign-A-Rama; Trinity Episcopal Church; Vermont Beth Anderson Public Radio (VPR); Papa Frank’s Restaurant; Liz Foster; Trish Stewart; The Oxford Network; Lesli Blount The Food Shelf’s Community Kitchen Program; First Congregational Church; VFW; Saint Sean Collins James J. Fogler Michael’s College MOVE -- Baked Love program; Theresa Randall; Price Chopper on Laurie Gunn Shelburne Road; and ’s Dining Services. Joyce Hagan George Hubbard In-kind donations provided by: Logic Supply Co.; Dealer.com; State of Vermont’s Catherine Kronk Waterbury offices; KeyBank; Champlain College; Action Moving and Storage; Vermont Paul Lekstutis Michael H. Lipson Energy Investment Corp. (VEIC); Gadue’s Dry Cleaning; Systems & Software, Inc.; The Marc H. Monheimer Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf; Faith United Methodist Church; EJU Ecumenical Food Jeffrey Nolan Shelf in Jericho; Green Mountain Aquatics; Burlington Country Club and The Edge swim Ron Redmond teams; College Street Congregational UCC; Fletcher/CSI; Oleet & Co., LLC; University Steve Roberts Mall; VCHIP, and many, many others. Debra Royce Patrick Thornton Tom Torti 30 years...continued from page 1 Rita Markley, Executive Director What makes COTS unique is that while Save the Date we help people who are homeless and in A United Way crisis, we also work to create systemic Member Agency Candlelight Vigil change that will end homelessness. Each 5:30 pm, December 20, 2012 year, we help more than 2,000 people City Hall steps, Church Street Marketplace who are homeless or at risk of becoming At this year’s memorial service to honor homeless with shelter, prevention, those served by COTS, we will share Editor personal stories and light a candle for those Becky Holt outreach, and housing. helped by COTS in its 30-year history. Writers This year, as we mark 30 years of Nicolle Marshall & Gillian Taylor service to our community, COTS 30th Anniversary Gala Designer looks forward. We celebrate COTS’ March 20, 2013, Hilton Lisa Cadieux, Liquid Studio commitment to innovative solutions to The focus of the dinner is on the future end homelessness through prevention, and how preventing homelessness is vital follow us online retention and rapid re-housing. to ending it. We will spotlight innovative www.cotsonline.org strategies and honor community partners, We invite you to join us. www.facebook.com/COTSonline businesses and individuals who have @COTSvt worked toward COTS achieving this aim.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  New and working at COTS Annual Meeting & Volunteer COTS Housing Resource Center Appreciation Breakfast launches COMPASS The COMPASS (COMPrehensive Assistance toward Self This October, COTS held its 2012 Annual Meeting & Volunteer Sufficiency) is a risk-guarantee program designed for families Appreciation Breakfast, where we recognized our tremendous and individuals who are able to pay rent but have a damaged community support: rental or credit history that creates a major obstacle to housing. Wilma Rayta Volunteer of the Year Award: The COTS staff work with the households on strategies to Blue Star Mothers of Vermont, led by Valerie Palotta and Beni improve their credit standing, as well as with the issues Twitchell, have provided incredible support to the residents that prompted past problems. COTS also provides financial of COTS Canal Street Veteran’s Housing. They host monthly support: The COTS risk guarantee pool, funded by private dinners, coordinate fundraisers and hold in-kind drives for foundation support, ensures that if a landlord does have veterans moving into a permanent residences. expenses (such as an eviction or extreme damage) from Community Partner Award: First United Methodist someone in the COMPASS program, COTS will cover those Church of Burlington has generously offered COTS the use of costs to an agreed upon limit. If, however, after 1-2 years of its parsonage this winter to host the Daystation, COTS’ daytime success without problem, the resident will enter a standard shelter left homeless by a July 4 flood. The church has been a landlord-tenant agreement. The funds then will be used to good neighbor again and again to COTS – and families to help another household in need. individuals in need. This program’s goal is to help households with a difficult past Leahy Leadership Award (Advocacy): Sr. Irene overcome it and create a successful new start. Duchesneau is a COTS founder and a tireless advocate the Home Again provides transitional poor and disenfranchised. She has been a visionary leader in housing for families working to provide health care for those in need, as well an early supporter for COTS’ prevention initiatives. Home Again is a transitional housing program for families. After a brief shelter stay, families move into apartments leased Business Hero Award: North Country Federal Credit by COTS, allowing families to immediately begin restoring Union provided a $15,000 grant to help get the COTS’ their housing credit and landlord references. Housing Resource Center’s Security Deposit Loan Program started, and they continue to help us to administer the program. This solution also lets children avoid the challenges of They run credit checks on program applicants, set up the loan congregant shelter living. with participants, and are available to clients for other services COTS staff continue to work closely with the families, like budgeting and opening other accounts. supporting them on their plan toward a goal of permanent, Samara-Anderson Walk Award: St. Pius X. Father sustainable housing. Richard Tinney has led a tremendously successful COTS Walk The program was made possible through collaborative team for many years. The parish incorporates the Walk into funding, including a private foundation gift and grant from their Confirmation classes’ preparation efforts and social justice the Saint Michael’s College Fix it with Five. panel. Youth Minister Andrew Coulter also volunteers on the Walk Committee. 12 veterans complete program at Canal Street Veterans Housing COTS welcomed the first residents to Canal Street Veterans Housing last year. Canal Street provides transitional housing for formerly homeless veterans – men, women and families. Volunteers needed for Phonathon

Through October, 12 veterans have successfully graduated The COTS annual Phonathon starts Nov. 26. Volunteers call from the program. They have moved into permanent housing COTS supporters to thank them for their past donations and and accomplished a number of their other goals, including ask them to consider a gift again this year. rebuilding credit and saving money. If you would like to volunteer, as a caller or in the mailroom, In the words of a veteran who completed the program: “This call Nicole at (802) 540-3084, Ext. 207, or email her at program and house has saved me … This program also made [email protected]. We need 50 volunteers, 5:30-9 p.m. me feel like I belonged to something bigger than just myself. … Nov. 26-29. Daytime and evening hours available Dec. 3-5. I have been given a home here not just a physical home but also Thank you for your help. a state of mind home. And that is a great feeling, believe me.”

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  After the storm, the Upper Valley Haven in White River It takes a village… Junction donated seven boxes of cups, plates and utensils to Longtime friend Lorna Peal the Daystation. and COTS staff-memberLouise Merriam helped bring to Matt Richardson donates handyman services each month to Vermont filmmaker Rachel our location at 95 North Ave. Fleischer and her documentary, “Without A Home,” which TheWilliston Community Food Shelf donated 8 boxes of chronicles the lives of homeless new underwear and socks for adults and children. individuals and families in Los Angeles. Orly Yadin and the TheFirst Congregational Church of Essex Junction Vermont International Film participated in a drive for items on our wish list as part of Festival generously donated a their Mission Possible program. JetBlue flight voucher for Rachel to travel from LA to Vermont Brownie Troop 30262 donated Girl Scout cookies to our where she screened her documentary at two separate events at family shelters as well as a $250 cash donation. Champlain College and Saint Michael’s College over the course of her three-day trip. VIFF also donated 30 tickets to their Rock Point School provided pizza while the Daystation was annual festival to COTS for volunteers and guests. in transition, meals during their Community Service Week and handmade signs for the 2012 COTS Walk. The school hosted Crosswalk: A Fashion Show Styled by “Sound”, its annual Ooky Spooky 5K Fun Run for COTS in October. presented by Amy Wild, Nick Mayodones and Matt Rogers, benefited COTS this summer. Barbacoa, Parmaga, and DJ Vermont Young Professionals selected COTS as their in- Disco provided a live soundtrack for Vermont independent kind recipient at the Vermonter’s Ball. The result? Bags and designers as their models walked the runway at Main Street bags of personal care items! Landing. An after party was hosted at Signal Kitchen with Deleted Scenes and Spirit Animal + Persian Claws. Brought TheG MS Navigators and new volunteer Debbie Kois to you by MSR, Angioplasty, and Where and sponsors, helped with grilling and tie-dye at our annual Family BBQ at Seventh Generation and Fluid. the Main Street Family Shelter.

Gotta Have Sole Foundation, Inc. provided 19 pairs of Thank you toMike Bazemore (Serve Burlington), Matt new shoes for children in the family shelters in July, with Beer (New Moon Café) and Lion’s Gate Farm for offering another 13 pairs arriving in September. our families CSA farm shares at deeply reduced costs.

Vermont Teddy Bear Co. donated more than 200 pairs COTS received a warm welcome to the Old North End from of women’s pajamas. our neighbors across the street. The1st Annual Waggy/ McCaffery’s Sunoco Classic Car Show was a wonderful Gardener’s Supply Co. donated a $30 gift card so that way to be welcomed into the ONE. The event raised an $645 a working dad could buy a sunhat to keep his head and for COTS. We can’t wait to see more great cars next year! shoulders covered while at work.

Select Design donated sweatshirts and T-shirts for children and adults.

TheDoubletree Hotel in South Burlington and Three Brothers Ent., Inc. donated general admission tickets through the Vermont Lake Monsters “Share the Experience” program for our Daystation clients. COTS also participated in the Vermont Lake Monsters May Day Program; all tickets bought in May for the Aug. 31 game helped COTS. The Lake Monsters also hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Night, attended by many of our volunteers.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  Kirby Vacuum Co. donated five vacuum cleaners. Helene Brodeur handmade 24 fleece blankets for children in COTS services. They are so beautiful and snuggly. Mike Bazemore and Kevin Pounds (Serve Burlington) hosted another successful Bike Recycle series in which Natalie Meyer volunteered every other week at our Daystation Clients spend eight weeks learning about bike Administrative Offices for several months as part of her Bat maintenance and begin working on a bike that they will be Mitzvah project. able to keep at the end of the workshop. Neisha Surprise completed a semester-long internship in Thank you toDean LePage for making possible our second our Development Office this past spring as part ofLinking Pizza Putt Extravaganza for families in shelter. Learning to Life at Burlington High School.

Citizens Bank sponsored another wonderful backpack HUBER+SUHNER invited COTS Families to their annual drive, “Gear for Grades,” that outfits all of our children with Family Day. This fantastic summer event included a barbecue, backpacks and supplies for school each year. family games, and gift baskets for all in attendance.

Dames Gone Wild, a group of women helping people, pets Daystation staffer and and planets, served for four hours at the Main Street Family LetGo Fittness® Zumba Shelter, deep cleaning our playroom and organizing our Arts Instructor, Kate Barash- & Crafts cabinet. Engel organized the first- ever COTS Zumbathon Student leaders from the ’s to support the Daystation Service Trek program, for deep-cleaning the Main Street recovery and renewal. and Firehouse kitchen and dining rooms in preparation for With awesome music and painting that would happen later in the month. eight liscensed Zumba® instructors all in one Seventh Generation sent a team of 12 volunteers to paint place, the event raised the kitchen and dining rooms at our Main Street Family more than $5,000. Thank Shelter. The volunteers also worked on outdoor cleanup, you to all who fundraised and provided in-kind gifts of diapers, wipes, and cleaning and participated. products. An additional 20 volunteers are scheduled to volunteer in November! Outdoor Gear Exchange hosted its first Dragonheart Vermont donated more than 250 T-shirts. spring fashion show, “Call Costco donated 73 new memory foam pillows, which have of the Wild” in April, with been used both in our shelters and for folks moving into COTS being one of the benefitting nonprofits. housing. Burlington Furniture Co. hosted its annual “Back to Bite Me Pizza continues to provide dinner for our house School” sale with a percentage of sales benefiting COTS. meeting at the Main Street Family Shelter each Wednesday night. Jessica Wagner and local homeschoolers hosted their 13th Annual Homeschooler Bake Sale for COTS at Sisters Mary Pollard (IBM) and Kim Borsavage (The Lang the Fletcher Free Library. The bake sale brought in more House) continue to provide a weekly meal at our Daystation – than $360. this has been especially critical while we have been relocated. Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel, in conjunction with Darn Mirabelle’s Café continues to donate a cake each month to Tough and Smartwool, donated hundreds of new socks children who are having their birthday in shelter. to COTS shelters as well as the proceeds from their Annual Charity Sock Sale. The result? $1,000 for services and St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church made lunch for the support and many warm, dry feet. Daystation, as well as donated a $100 gift card to Papa Frank’s in Winooski. Papa Frank’s offered us a discount Essex Middle School students from the Edge Academy so that this gift card could cover lunch for more than 40 hosted their student-run “Pedals for Change,” a 5-mile bike individuals. ride that raised money for COTS.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  TheAmerican Legion, facilitated by the Blue Star Mothers, It takes a village… has provided a van to bring veterans from Canal Street to the Burlington Bears its grocery store once a month. Art for COTS … an update: Bids for the Barnes & Noble Booksellers hosted our Children’s Art Bears took place Oct. Exhibit during the month of April. The paintings, inspired 11-Nov. 11. Thanks by a variety of famous artists, were created by children staying especially to the event’s at our Family Shelters. Former VHCB AmeriCorps member sponsors: Citizens Alicia Pacelli hosted a series of art workshops for children in Bank, Burlington Free shelter and helped to organize the event in partnership with Press, the bookstore. Regional Chamber of Commerce, The Church TheChittenden Emergency Food Shelf has gone above and Street Marketplace beyond for COTS during our time of need by helping us with Foundation, lunches and also storing perishable food for us in the food Burlington Business shelf’s freezers – we are so grateful! Association, KOOL 105, 98.9 WOKO, and Howard Longway has been regularly helping out by WCAX-TV. bringing by new socks, underwear, shirts and pajamas that he gets from Walmart to the Canal Street Veteran’s Housing. For the past five years,Meghan Burke has been gathering local bands to play in annual concerts to benefit different Two groups of Book Buddies from the COTS Family Shelters organizations and charities. This year, the record-setting were recognized at the Vermont Governor’s Awards donation was given to COTS. We’d like to thank Vermont for Outstanding Community Service in June. Jacquie Audio Visual for providing sound and lighting equipment, Bolster, her adult daughter Stephanie, and her father Jack Mitchell Hay and Essex United Methodist Church for Mood were recognized with the Family Service Award hosting the event at the last minute due to a rainstorm. to honor their service as book buddies each Thursday night in shelter. Jacquie and her family have also been organizing Big thanks to General Dynamics for their generous an Easter Basket drive for families for the past 18 years. support of COTS’ Canal Street Veterans Housing. We are Saint Michael’s College Professor Valerie Bang-Jensen was grateful for the financial gift, as well as the wonderful in- honored with a Service Learning Award for her class’s kind donations (nonperishable food, new blankets, sheets multi-semester partnership with the book buddies program. and pillows, books for children and more). Sharon Dooley-Blow, COTS volunteer and South TheFresh Beats & Free Treats event in August, hosted Burlington para-educator, was recognized this September with by DJ Fattie B, and presented by Vermont.com, was a United Way Building Block Award for her volunteer an awesome event at Club Metronome, with proceeds service tutoring at the COTS Family Shelters. benefitting COTS. At an art exhibit this spring and summer at Speeder & Burlington Elks Lodge awarded a $2,000 gratitude grant Earl’s, photographer Michael Sipe strived to do the speaking to COTS. for Burlington’s homeless community through his series, “Silent Faces.” As part of its 90/10 series, Burlington Ensemble donates 90% of its concert proceeds to partnering nonprofit organizations over six concerts each season. COTS is honored to be among its partnering organizations! Find out more at: www.burlingtonensemble.com

The Junior League gave the Firehouse Family Shelter’s upstairs living room a complete makeover, including beautiful new couches, throw pillows, window shades, and a new coat of paint, making the space warm and inviting for families.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  More than 1,500 walkers took the 3-mile Generous in-kind supporters: Faith: College Street Congregational trek around Burlington on May 6 for the American Flatbread, Champlain Valley Church; First Congregational Church of 23rd annual COTS Walk. Walkers helped Exposition, Creative Habitat, Curtis Lumber, Burlington; First United Methodist; Good raise more than $176,000 in support of ECHO at the Leahy Center, Enterprise Rent-A- Shepherd Lutheran; Holy Family & St. COTS services and shelters. Car, Essex Cinemas, Hannaford Co., Learning Lawrence; Malletts Bay-UCC; St. James Express, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co., PP&D Episcopal; St. Paul Episcopal; St. Pius X; The walk would not be possible without the Distribution Service, Price Chopper Foods, United Church of Underhill. generous support of our sponsors: , Ricoh, Sodexo Inc. & Affiliates, Schools: Burlington High School; Vermont Business Magazine, Vermont Coffee Community Sponsors: Champlain Valley Union High School; Co., Vermont Lake Monsters, Vermont Moving Dealer.com Christ the King School; Essex High School; and Storage, Crystal Rock & Vermont Pure Duncan*Wisniewski Mount Mansfield Union High School; Bottled Water Companies, Vermont Teddy Wright & Morrissey Rice Memorial High School; University of Bear Factory, WB Mason, Zachary’s Pizza. Vermont. Media Sponsors: WB Mason, Hudson Valley Paper, Vermont Free Press Media Moving & Storage, Curtis Lumber, Vermont Many thanks to our amazing Star 92.9 Teddy Bear Factory, Sodexo Inc. & Affliates. volunteers, volunteer captains and WCAX-TV Walk Committee: Lucy Samara, Gary Eley, Betsy Freeman, Michael Stefanowicz, Route Sponsors: Leslie Griffiths, Andrew Coulter, Elise Darn Tough Challenge Walkers Goodrich, Antonia Opitz, Nicole Marshall, HUBER+SUHNER Individuals: Yves Bradley; Sue Chayer; Stephanie McKay and Jan Stickle. The Lodge at Otter Creek & The Lodge at Molly Comeau; Kathy Cousino; Denise Shelburne Bay Danyow; Bob Duncan; Gary Eley; David MyWebGrocer Finney; Maree Gaetani; Melissa Goldberg; National Life Group Julie Graves; Cindy Goodrich; Joyce Hagan; Stephen & Burns Leslyn Hall; Judy Hamel; Maria Jarvis; Rolf Site sponsors: Kielman; Stephen Kiernan; Barbara Lande; Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc. Whitney Leighton; Stacey Lax; Nan Mason; Blue Cross Blue Shield Rita Markley; Debra Royce; Claire Saladin; Casella Waste Management Lucy Samara; Jennifer Swint; Rich Tarrant; City Market Lisa Thibault-Stever; Father Richard Tinney Merchants Bank Under 18: Sydney Holt Barker; Gregory Parlato Productions Knowles Vermont Tent Co. Businesses: Gardener’s Supply Co.; T-Shirt Sponsors: General Dynamics; Gordon’s Window Décor; Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C.; Fletcher HUBER+SUHNER; Sen. Patrick Leahy’s office; Allen Healthcare; Gardener’s Supply Co.; Paul Frank + Collins; Primmer Piper Eggleston KeyBank; NBT Bank; Northeast Delta Dental; & Cramer; Redstone; Redstone Research; Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors; Revision Military; TCI, Twincraft. RedStone; Starbucks; SymQuest Group, Inc.; Queen City Printers, Inc.; The Dixie Community: COTS Family Shelter; Hope Six; Vermont Commercial Real Estate; The for COTS; Mike & Nicole; Team Smiley; Win Willoughbys @ all COTS.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  year in review 2012 by the numbers 2012 Revenue $3,306,502 shelters Family Shelters: 117 families, including 154 Individuals & Businesses: 33.7% ($1,114,598) adults and 182 children, stayed in a COTS family Federal Grants: 20.4% ($673,162) shelter. We have the capacity to serve 15 families Foundations: 11.1% ($366,046) each night. Rental Income: 9.9% ($327,959) State Grants: 8.7% ($287,702) Single Adult Overnight Shelters: 221 adults Veterans Administration: 7.1% ($235,927) stayed in a COTS overnight shelters. We have 36 United Way: 4.3% ($143,525) emergency beds each night. Other: 4.8% ($157,583) Single Adult Daytime Shelter: 926 individuals – an average of 48 people per day – used the Daystation, the only daytime shelter for homeless adults in Chittenden County. With the help of volunteers, COTS serves a noontime meal every day of the year.

SERVICES COTS Family Services: 191 families, including those staying in emergency shelter or in overflow motels, received outreach and support from COTS staff. This represents 272 adults and 313 children.

COTS Adult Services: 235 single, homeless adults received outreach and support from COTS staff.

PREVENTION SUPPORT Rental & Mortgage Arrearage: 264 households, including 236 children, who were experiencing financial crisis averted homelessness and stayed in their home through the COTS Housing Resource Center.

Security Deposit Grants & Loans: 319 households, including 324 children, received security deposit assistance through the COTS Housing Resource Center. This program shortens shelter stays and reduces the number of transitions children experience in families struggling to find suitable and sustainable housing.

HOUSING Transitional Housing: 25 units of are provided by COTS at the Smith House and at Canal Street Support Services: 17.6% ($622,258) Veterans Housing. Development: 9.3% ($324,515) Public Education: 2.4% ($84,231) Permanent Housing: 56 units of are offered by Family Shelters: 17.9% ($626,861) COTS at The Wilson, St. John’s Hall and Canal Street Prevention Services: 8.0% ($279,848) Veterans Housing (with Housing Vermont). Overflow Shelters: 9.2% ($320,474) Adult Shelters: 14.8% ($518,423) *These are pre-audited numbers. Housing Facilities: 14.3% ($502,957) COTS’ FY12 deficit resulted from a combination of carrying costs for Administration: 6.5% ($226,923) overflows shelters together with a more competitive fundraising environment. Development results near year-end were stronger, and overall FY12 expenses Expenses were at budgeted levels. Going forward, COTS will benefit from lower $3,506,490 expenses related to closure of overflow shelters and reduced rent expenses.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  Congregational Women’s Fellowship Coombs & Davis, LLP Thank you! Co-Operative Insurance Companies These generous businesses and organizations provided in-kind and financial Costco Wholesale #314 support during COTS’ fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2011-Sept. 30, 2012). In addition to the Cota Trucking Co names here, hundreds of individuals have made financial and/or in-kind gifts in Creative Design Management support of COTS programs and services this year. Creative Habitat Creative Teamworks A Flower A Day Burlington Drug Co. Crystal Rock & Vermont Pure Bottled Water A Single Pebble Restaurant Burlington Elks Lodge #916 Companies A. C. Hathorne Burlington Ensemble Cunningham Contractors A.M. Turk Tax Associates, Inc. Burlington Free Press Curtis Lumber Accredited Hearing Care Center Burlington Furniture Cx Associates, LLC Acme Paint & Glass Burlington Housing Authority Daffodil Enterprises, Inc. After Midnight Corporation Burlington Insurance Agency Danaher Attig & Plante, PLC Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Burlington Parks and Recreation Danforth Pewter Sciences Burlington Police Department Darn Tough Vermont Alder Brook Family Health Burlington Subaru/Hyundai, Inc. Daughters of Isabella, Madonna Circle All Saints Episcopal Church Burlington Telecom Dealer.com Alliance Property Management, Inc. Business Communication Services, Inc. Dee Physical Therapy Allstate Giving Campaign Butternut Mountain Farm DEW Construction Al’s French Frys Cabin-N-Castle Homes, Inc. DGH Enterprises, LLC American Flatbread Cabot Hosiery Mills, Inc. Diamantis Construction American Legion Post #42 Cabot Vermont Dinse, Knapp & McAndrew, P.C. American Red Cross Vermont & New Cady’s Falls Nursery Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 5 Hampshire Valley Casella Waste Systems, Inc. Doubletree Hotel America’s Gardening Resource, Inc. Catamount North DR Power Equipment Ameriprise Financial Advisors Cedar Ledge Builders, Inc. Dragonheart Vermont Apex Carpet Cleaning Champlain College Duncan*Wisniewski Architecture Apple Mountain Vermont Gifts & Speciality Duncan’s Auto Service Foods Champlain Consulting Engineers Dynapower Corp. Artful Sweep Chimney Service, Inc. Champlain Investment Partners E & M Mechanical, Inc. Artworks Alley, LLC Champlain Radio Group E & R Cleaners Ashgate Publishing Co. Champlain Valley Exposition East Coast Printers Autumn Harp, Inc. Champlain Water District East Corinth Congregational Church Barash Mediation Services Champlain Woodcraft Eastwood Neighborhood Association, Inc. Barnes & Noble Booksellers Charlotte Children’s Center Chef’s Corner Cafe Bakery ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center/ Bauer, Gravel, Farnham, Nuovo, Parker & Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Lang Childcare Unlimited Edith Crocker Charitable Trust Beaudin’s Plumbing & Heating Chittenden County Court Diversion EJU Ecumenical Food Shelf Beeken Parsons Chittenden County Retired Association Employee Community Action Council of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade, Inc. Cider House, LLC General Dynamics Bergeron, Paradis & Fitzpatrick Citizens Bank Energy Futures Group, Inc. Bessemer Trust Co. of Delaware City Market Enterprise Rent-A-Car Best Western City of South Burlington Enviro Tech of VT Septic Services, LLC Bio-Medic Appliances, Inc. City of Winooski Essential Salon Products, Inc. Bite Me Pizza Clark’s Truck Center Essex Cinemas Blodgett, Watts & Volk, P.C. Claussen’s Enterprise Incorporated Essex High School Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Vermont Coldwell Banker Hickok & Boardman Realty Essex Middle School Blue Star Mothers College Street Congregational UCC Essex United Methodist Women Bond Auto Parts Comfortex Window Fashions Evergreen Evaluation And Consulting Booska Movers Community Chiropractic Center F.R. Lafayette, Inc. Boucher & Pritchard Funeral Directors Community Lutheran Church FAHC Phlebotomy Brewster Pierce Middle School Competitive Computing Fairhurst Professional Services Concepts: In Structures, LLC Fairpoint Communications

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012  Faith United Methodist Church Heavenly Cents Thrift Shop McNeil Generating Station Family Chiropractors Her Look Enterprises LLC Members Advantage Community Credit Union Fanny Allen Corporation, Inc. Heritage Business Services, Inc. Merchants Bank Farrell Real Estate Co. Highfields Capital Management LP Mercy House Financial Coaching Services, Inc. Hopkins Bookshop Micro Wire Transmission Systems, Inc. Finest Images Howard Plant VFW Post #782 Microsoft Matching Gifts Program First Baptist Church, Inc. HUBER+SUHNER, Inc. Milton Chiropractic Center First Congregational Church of Burlington Hugh A. Griffiths 2009 Charitable Lead Mimi Nails Annuity Trust First Congregational Church of Essex Junction Mirabelles, Inc. IBM First United Methodist Church Mobius, Inc. IBM Retiree Charitable Campaign First Unitarian Universalist Society Modern Design Furniture IBM-Computershare Fitzgerald Veterinary Hospital Montgomery & Merrill, PC Independent Block Fletcher Allen Health Care Montpelier High School Injury & Health Management Solutions, Inc. Fletcher/CSI, Inc. Morgan Stanley Annual Appeal Campaign Instrumart Flynn Center for the Performing Arts MSR Presents, LLC J&B International Trucks, Inc. Frank Carruth, Inc. Mt. Mansfield Union High School J. A. Morrissey, Inc. Fraternal Order of Eagles Murphy Sullivan Kronk Jamieson Insurance Agency, Inc. Funny Business Entertainment, LLC Myer’s Bagel Bakery Janitech Furchgott & Sourdiffe, Inc. MyWebGrocer Johnson Electric G W Tatro Construction, Inc. Nail Pro JR’s Corner Store, LLC Gadue’s Dry Cleaning, Inc. NBT Bank Junior League of Champlain Valley Gallagher, Flynn & Company, LLP Network For Good Keller Williams Realty, G.M.P. Gardener’s Supply Co. Network Performance, Inc. Kenneth G Weston Surveying Services, Inc. GE United Way Campaign Neuropsychology Associates, LTD Ken’s Auto Repair Gene Armstrong Excavating New Breed Marketing KeyBank General Dynamics Federal Credit Union KeyBank National Association General Electric NorthCountry Federal Credit Union Kidsafe Collaborative Geri Reilly Real Estate Kirby Electric, Inc. Northeast Delta Dental Girl Scout Troop #30262 Kirby Vacuum Co Northern Benefits, Ltd. Global Garage Sales, Inc. Kiss the Cook Northfield Savings Bank GM Floor Covering Kohn, Rath, Blackwood & Danon, LLP Northwestern Vermont Board of Realtors GOF Ltd. Krebs & Lansing Consulting Engineers, Inc. NPC Processing GoodSearch L. K. Rossi Corporation Office Environments, Inc. Gordon’s Window Décor Lague, Inc. Old Brick Store Grace United Methodist Church Lake Champlain Chocolates Oleet & Co., LLC Great Harvest Bread Co. Larkin Realty Online Angels Greater Burlington YMCA Learning Express Padraic Monks Greater Horizons Lenny’s Shoe & Apparel Pajama Program Greek Orthodox Philoptochos Leonardo’s Pizza Papa Frank’s, Inc. Green Mountain Aquatics Leunig’s Bistro Papa John’s Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Lewis Excavating, LLC Parlato Productions Green Mountain Power Corp. Lisman Webster & Leckerling, PC Paul Frank + Collins, P.C. Green Mountain Video, Inc. Llewellyn-Howley, Inc. Paw Print & Mail Guy’s Unisex Salon, Inc. Logic Supply, Inc. Penny Cluse Café GWR Engineering, P.C. Lund Landscape Services, Inc. Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. Hairmasters, Inc. Lynch Family Chiropractic, LLC Peter Maynard Roofing Inc. Hallam Associates, Inc. Main Street Landing Co. Pho Dang Vietnamese Café Halvorson’s Upstreet Café Maine Street Stylists Pho Hong Hannaford Co. Majestic 10 Cinemas Pierre’s Repairs Hannaford Supermarkets Maple Tree Mortgage, Inc. Pizzagalli Construction Co. Hardy Structural Engineering Mark Yorra, M.D. & Catherine Gates C.N.M PKC Corporation Harwood UHSD #19 Mason & Associates Points Of Light Institute Hazelett Strip-Casting Corp. Mater Christi School Pomerleau Properties, Inc. Healthy Living Natural Foods Market McCaffrey’s Sunoco PP&D Distribution Service

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012 10 Precision Tile South End Arts & Business Association Transitional Services For Youth And Families Premier Spanked Puppy Pub Travel Leaders Price Chopper Foods Special Olympics Triple Loop Costumes Public Contributions Spectrum Benefits, Inc. Trono Fuels, Inc. Puppets in Education Spirit Of Ethan Allen Truex Cullins & Partners PuroClean St. Albans Eye Center Twincraft Queen City Printers, Inc. St. Andrew Episcopal Church UBS Employee Giving Programs Quick Response Sprinkler Systems, Inc. St. John Vianney Church Underhill Central School R.E.M. Development Company, LLC St. Mark Church Union Mutual of VT Companies Redstone Commercial Group Starbucks United Church of Fairfax Redstone Research, LLC Sterling Construction, Inc. United Church Of Hinesburg Regular Veterans Association Stone Underground Contruction United Way Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph Stowe Community Church United Way Of Coastal Fairfield County, Inc. Renaissance Development Co. Stowe Gems United Way of Greater Waterbury Residence Inn Stowe Mountain Resort University Mall Resort Maps, Inc. Sugarsnap Upper Valley Haven Resource Systems Group, Inc. Summit / Catamount Construction, LLC UVM College Of Agriculture & Life Sciences Retina Center Of Vermont Superstore UVM Dining Services Revision Military SymQuest Group, Inc. V/T Commercial Rhino Foods Systems & Software, Inc. Verilux, Inc. Richard L. Wheatley, CPA Tamarack Services of VT, Inc. Vermont Business Magazine Richard M. Doherty, P.E. TD Banknorth Vermont Coffee Co. Richmond Food Shelf Technology Consultants Vermont Energy Investment Corp. Ricoh, formerly IKON Office Solutions Terri’s Morning Garden Vermont Federal Credit Union Rieley Realty, Inc. DBA Kids Town Texas Roadhouse Vermont Inspection Services, Inc. Rinkers Communications The Abbey Group Vermont Lake Monsters River’s Bend Design The Bay Corporation Vermont Moving and Storage The Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf Rock Point Advisors Vermont National Country Club The Dixie Six Rock Point School Vermont State Employees Credit Union The Edge Rose Computer Technology Services, Inc. Vermont Teddy Bear Co. The Eldoes Roth Real Estate Vermont Teddy Bear Factory The Essex Agency, Inc. RSVP of Chittenden County Vermont Tent Co. The F.H. Adams Co. RunVermont Vermont Wildwoods The Farm House Tap & Grill Safeguard Business Systems Vermont Young Professionals The First Congregational Church of Burlington Saint Michael’s College Vermont.com The Gallery of Hair Fashions Saint Michael’s College - MOVE Office VHB Inc. The Lodge at Shelburne Bay Real Estate, LLC Salem Engineering, Inc. Wake Robin The Royal Group, Inc. Samuel D Champlain Club Wallace Realty The Towner Management Group Scampers Waterbury/Waitsfield Hardware The Village Green at Stowe SecurShred, Inc. WB Mason The Willoughbys Selection Unlimited WCAX-TV Thomas Mechanical, Inc. Seventh Generation Wellspring Learning, Inc. Three Brothers Ent., Inc. Shelburne Bay Senior Living Community Westphalen Photography, Inc. Three Tomatoes Shores Acres WEZF-FM (92.9) TLOC Senior Living, LLC DBA The Lodge at Silver Maple Editions Otter Creek Whispering Dream Pewter, Inc. Sisters of Mercy Top Dog Landscaping, Inc. White’s Christmas Tree Farm Sisters of Mercy/Tabor Community Town of Charlotte Williston Community Food Shelf Small Boat Exchange Town of Essex Wine Works SMC Edmundite Community Town of Hinesburg WOKO-FM (98.9) Snowflake Chocolates Town of Jericho Women’s Fellowship Society of St. Edmunds Town of Shelburne Wright & Morrissey, Inc. Sodexo Inc & Affiliates Town of Underhill YWCA South Burlington High School Town of Williston Zachary’s Pizza South Burlington Senior Lunch Program Training, Marketing & Technology, Inc. Zinnia, Inc.

www.cotsonline.org COTS HOMEFRONT FALL 2012 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 For complete details, please visit: www.cotsonline.org Phonathon November 26-29 December 3-4 The Coolest Lunch December 13 Candlelight Vigil December 20 30th Anniversary Gala March 20, 2013 COTS Walk May 5, 2013

Wintertime…and the giving is easy Alternative giving ideas from COTS

Send a Katharine Montstream holiday card Share Cookies – or Catering – Make a minimum $10 donation to COTS in someone’s name, for Good and we’ll send the recipient a beautiful Katharine Montstream COTS is expanding their Cookies card with this message: “A generous donation has been made to for Good partnership with Sugarsnap. the Committee on Temporary Shelter in your name. This gift of Sugarsnap will now donate 10 percent warmth and shelter will help families and individuals who are of all catering proceeds through the new experiencing the crisis of homelessness make it through the “Catering for Good” program. This new harsh winter months. Happy holidays and best wishes for the effort will benefit our shelters, services and new year.” To order, call Nicole at (802) 540-3084, Ext. 207 or homelessness prevention programs. If you’re looking for a email [email protected]. caterer to help you with a holiday party at your home or at work, give Sugarsnap a call at (802) 861-2951. And, don’t Carry a COTS Flashbag forget the Cookies for Good – 35 cents from each $1 cookie The Flashbags feature doorknobs from the Main Street sold goes to COTS, too. Learn more at www.cookiesforgood. Family Shelter. To org or email [email protected]. order tote bags (available in 2 sizes), placemats Shop at City Market Tree Sale or wallets, call (802) City Market (82 South Winooski Avenue, Burlington) 864-7402 or email plans to once again generously sell fresh balsam trees to [email protected]. For benefit COTS. Trees cost $35 and are expected to arrive orders placed through on Dec. 5, with sales continuing until all trees are sold. COTS, we receive 50 “Elves” are needed to help with the benefit sale. Visit percent of each sale. www.citymarket.coop.